Author: History of Parliament

19th Century history, Constituencies, Victorian, Victorian Commons

Richard Cobden and his constituencies

In this guest post, originally published on the Victorian Commons website, Professor Simon Morgan of Leeds Beckett University, the principal investigator on the Letters of Richard Cobden Online resource, shows how Cobden’s letters can shed light on his role as a constituency MP. The publication in 2023 of the Letters of Richard Cobden Online, an open access database funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and containing … Continue reading Richard Cobden and his constituencies

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Revolutionary Stuart Parliaments, 17th Century history, Electoral Reform, Interregnum, Oliver Cromwell, Parliamentary Life, Religious history, Social history

Oliver Cromwell’s ‘Other House’ and the perils of Lords ‘reform’

In this guest post, Dr Jonathan Fitzgibbons of Lincoln University, looks at a constitutional issue from the 1650s with obvious contemporary relevance: the place of the House of Lords. As politicians continue to debate the House of Lords’ future, including legislation to eliminate its remaining hereditary peers, they might draw lessons from its past. Particularly instructive are the events of the English Revolution, which saw … Continue reading Oliver Cromwell’s ‘Other House’ and the perils of Lords ‘reform’

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Conferences, Seminars and Events, 17th Century history, Charles I, Commons in the Civil Wars, Stuart

Approaching the ‘great Court of Justice now sitting’: petitioning and parliamentary memory in the Long Parliament (1640-1642)

Ahead of next Tuesday’s Parliaments, Politics and People seminar, we hear from Dr Ellen Paterson, Keble College, University of Oxford. On 11 March Ellen will discuss petitioning and parliamentary memory in the Long Parliament (1640-1642). The seminar takes place on 11 March 2025, between 5:30 and 6.30 p.m. It is fully ‘hybrid’, which means you can attend either in-person in London at the IHR, or online … Continue reading Approaching the ‘great Court of Justice now sitting’: petitioning and parliamentary memory in the Long Parliament (1640-1642)

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Conferences, Seminars and Events, 20th century history, Modern, Winston Churchill

Scrutinising Wartime Britain: The Commons Committees on National Expenditure 1917-20 and 1939-45

Ahead of next Tuesday’s Parliaments, Politics and People seminar, we hear from Dr Philip Aylett. On 25 February, Philip will discuss ‘Scrutinising Wartime Britain: The Commons Committees on National Expenditure 1917-20 and 1939-45’. The seminar takes place on 25 February 2025, between 5:30 and 6.30 p.m. It will be hosted online via Zoom. Details of how to join the discussion are available here. The two world wars … Continue reading Scrutinising Wartime Britain: The Commons Committees on National Expenditure 1917-20 and 1939-45

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Conferences, Seminars and Events, History of Parliament Trust

Lived experiences of the Westminster Parliament in history: People, sociability, communities and space

On Friday 14 March 2025, a one-day conference, Lived Experiences of Westminster Parliament in History: People, Sociability, Communities, & Space, will be held at the University of Warwick. Organised by Brendan Tam and Chloe Challender and supported by the History of Parliament Trust and the University of Warwick’s Early Modern and Eighteenth Century Centre, the conference will examine the evolving dynamics between individuals and the … Continue reading Lived experiences of the Westminster Parliament in history: People, sociability, communities and space

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Conferences, Seminars and Events, 19th Century history, Art, Fashion and Material Culture, Electoral Reform, Social history, Victorian

Producing, Performing and Curating Radicalism: How was radical material culture produced, used and curated in early 19th century Britain?

Ahead of next Tuesday’s Parliaments, Politics and People seminar, we hear from Dr Caitlin Kitchener. On 28 January Caitlin will discuss the production, use and curation of radical material culture in the early nineteenth century. The seminar takes place on 28 January 2025, between 5:30 and 6.30 p.m. It will be hosted online via Zoom. Details of how to join the discussion are available here. … Continue reading Producing, Performing and Curating Radicalism: How was radical material culture produced, used and curated in early 19th century Britain?

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Conferences, Seminars and Events, 20th century history, Modern

What’s in a Name? How Peers Settled Their Titles in the Twentieth Century

Ahead of next Tuesday’s Parliaments, Politics and People seminar, we hear from Dr Duncan Sutherland. On 26 November he will discuss how peers settled their titles in the twentieth century. The seminar takes place on 26 November 2024, between 5:30 and 6.30 p.m. It is fully ‘hybrid’, which means you can attend either in-person in London at the IHR, or online via Zoom. Details of how to … Continue reading What’s in a Name? How Peers Settled Their Titles in the Twentieth Century

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History of Parliament Trust

Remembering Simon Healy

It is with great sadness that the History announces the death of Dr Simon Healy. One of its longest serving members of staff, Simon joined the History in 1990, where, for the next thirty years, he worked on both the early Stuart House of Commons and House of Lords volumes, published in 2010 and 2021 respectively. During that time, Simon wrote no fewer than 334 … Continue reading Remembering Simon Healy

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History of Parliament Trust, 20th century history, Contemporary History, Elections, Modern, Oral history, Parliamentary Life, Parties

Tales from the Green Benches: An Oral History of Parliament

This week, The History of Parliament Trust is excited to announce a new podcast series, ‘Tales from the Green Benches: An Oral History of Parliament’.  Since 2012, the History of Parliament has been interviewing former members of the House of Commons in order to capture personal reflections of lives lived in parliament. Including participants from across the three major parties, and ranging in both period … Continue reading Tales from the Green Benches: An Oral History of Parliament

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Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Elections, Georgian, Minority Ethnic History, Social history

John London: Britain’s First Black Voter?

At first glance, the 1749 Westminster constituency by-election does not seem to warrant too much attention, with the incumbent, Viscount Trentham, being re-elected following his appointment to office. However, as Dr Gillian Williamson explores, the election provides the earliest known record of a Black person voting in a British parliamentary election – John London. In November 1749 John London walked from his home to vote … Continue reading John London: Britain’s First Black Voter?

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