the lord chancellor sits on the woolsack in the house of lords.
the lord chancellor sits on the woolsack in the house of lords.
who sits on the woolsack in the house of lords?
the lord chancellor
at the south end of the chamber are the ornate gold canopy and throne; although the sovereign may theoretically occupy the throne during any sitting, he or she attends only the state opening of parliament. other members of the royal family who attend the state opening use chairs of state next to the throne, and peers' sons are always entitled to sit on the steps of the throne. in front of the throne is the woolsack, an armless red cushion stuffed with wool, representing the historical importance of the wool trade, and used by the officer presiding over the house (the lord speaker since 2006, but historically the lord chancellor or a deputy). the house's mace, which represents royal authority, is placed on the back of the woolsack. in front of the woolsack is the judges' woolsack, a larger red cushion that used to be occupied during the state opening by the law lords (who were members of the house of lords), and prospectively by the supreme court justices and other judges (whether or not members), to represent the judicial branch of government. the table of the house, at which the clerks sit, is in front.
palace of westminster
the woolsack is a large, wool-stuffed cushion or seat covered with red cloth; it has neither a back nor arms, though in the centre of the woolsack there is a back-rest. the lords' mace is placed on the rear part of the woolsack.









































in 1938, it was discovered that the woolsack was, in fact, stuffed with horsehair. when the woolsack was remade it was re-stuffed with wool from all over the commonwealth as a symbol of unity.
woolsack