Editing Star Chamber (section)

===Abolition and aftermath===
In 1641, the [[Long Parliament]], led by [[John Pym]] and inflamed by the severe treatment of [[John Lilburne]], as well as that of other religious dissenters such as [[William Prynne]], [[Alexander Leighton]], [[John Bastwick]] and [[Henry Burton (Puritan)|Henry Burton]], abolished the Star Chamber with the [[Habeas Corpus Act 1640]].

The gruesome punishments that the Star Chamber had imposed were not forgotten, and were revived by [[James II of England|King James II]],<ref>Ashley, 206–209; Harris, 329–348</ref> prompting an article in the [[Bill of Rights 1689|Bill of Rights of 1688]] "That excessive Baile ought not to be required nor excessive Fines imposed nor cruell and unusuall Punishments inflicted".<ref>[https://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/WillandMarSess2/1/2/data.pdf The Bill of Rights] on legislation.gov.uk</ref>

[[File:Old and new London - a narrative of its history, its people, and its places (1873) (14598096217).jpg|thumb|300px|Engraving of the Star Chamber, published in "Old and new London" in 1873, taken from a drawing made in 1836]]
The Chamber itself stood until its demolition in 1806 (or 1834 or early in 1836), when its materials were salvaged.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Besant |first=Sir Walter |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D68uAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA71 |title=Westminster |date=1895 |publisher=Frederick A. Stokes Company |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Rodwell |first1=Warwick |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0C_gDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT330 |title=Westminster Part II: The Art, Architecture and Archaeology of the Royal Palace |last2=Tatton-Brown |first2=Tim |date=2020-04-27 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-24800-2 |language=en}}</ref> The door was reused in the nearby [[Westminster School]] until it was destroyed in [[the Blitz]], and the historic Star Chamber ceiling, with its bright gold stars, was brought to [[Leasowe Castle]] on the [[Wirral Peninsula]] in [[Cheshire]] from the Court of Westminster, along with four tapestries depicting the four seasons.