Author: History of Parliament

Victorian, 19th Century history, Social history, Women and Parliament

‘Jane’ and the last days of Bellamy’s Refreshment Rooms

This month sees the publication of Necessary Women: the Untold Story of Parliament’s Working Women, by Mari Takayanagi and Elizabeth Hallam Smith. ‘Necessary Women’ is the first book to tell the stories of women who worked in Parliament, from housekeepers and kitchen staff in the nineteenth century through to the first women Clerks and Hansard Reporters in the twentieth. This year also marks 250 years … Continue reading ‘Jane’ and the last days of Bellamy’s Refreshment Rooms

History of Parliament3 Comments
Victorian Commons, 18th Century history, 19th Century history, 20th century history, Conferences, Seminars and Events, Modern, Victorian

Roundtable on Henry J. Miller, A Nation of Petitioners: Petitions and Petitioning in the United Kingdom, 1780-1918 (Cambridge, 2023)

Ahead of next Tuesday’s Parliaments, Politics and People roundtable seminar, we hear from Dr Henry Miller of the University of Durham. On 27 June between 5.30 p.m. and 7.00 p.m., Henry will discuss his book A Nation of Petitioners with Prof. Katrina Navickas (University of Hertfordshire), Dr. Diego Palacios Cerezales (Complutense University of Madrid), Dr. Kathryn Rix (History of Parliament Trust) and Prof. Miles Taylor (Humboldt University … Continue reading Roundtable on Henry J. Miller, A Nation of Petitioners: Petitions and Petitioning in the United Kingdom, 1780-1918 (Cambridge, 2023)

History of Parliament4 Comments
Modern, 20th century history, Conferences, Seminars and Events, Social history, Women and Parliament

The reinvention of the political wife in the age of suffrage

Ahead of next Tuesday’s hybrid Parliaments, Politics and People seminar, we hear from Ellie Lowe of Selwyn College, Cambridge. On 13 June, between 5.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m., Ellie will discuss the reinvention of the political wife in the age of suffrage. The seminar takes place on 13 June 2023, between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. It is fully ‘hybrid’, which means you can attend either in-person … Continue reading The reinvention of the political wife in the age of suffrage

History of ParliamentLeave a comment
Modern, 20th century history, David Lloyd George, Military history, Welsh History

A War for ‘Small Nations’: Wales and Empire from the Boer War to the Great War, 1899-1918

In today’s blog we hear from Robert Crosby, formerly of the London School of Economics, winner of the History of Parliament Undergraduate Dissertation Competition 2022. Here Robert has adapted his winning essay, exploring how those in Wales viewed themselves and their position in the British Empire during the early 20th century. The History of Parliament’s 2023 Undergraduate Dissertation Competition is open for entries until 29 September. Find all the … Continue reading A War for ‘Small Nations’: Wales and Empire from the Boer War to the Great War, 1899-1918

History of ParliamentLeave a comment
Modern, 20th century history, Andrew Bonar Law, George V, Stanley Baldwin

The king’s dilemma: how it fell to George V to choose a new prime minister

In May 1923, Andrew Bonar Law handed in his resignation letter and it fell to King George V to select a new prime minister. Lord Lexden, trustee of the History of Parliament, reflects on the process behind George V’s decision. One hundred years ago this month, King George V had to find a new prime minister very quickly. The incumbent, the Conservative Andrew Bonar Law, … Continue reading The king’s dilemma: how it fell to George V to choose a new prime minister

History of Parliament1 Comment
Modern, 19th Century history, 20th century history, Conferences, Seminars and Events

Politics and play in girls’ schools in England, 1870-1914

Ahead of next Tuesday’s hybrid Parliaments, Politics and People seminar, we hear from Dr Helen Sunderland of St Catherine’s College, University of Oxford. On 16 May, between 5.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m., Helen will discuss politics and play in girls’ schools in England between 1870 and 1914. The seminar takes place on 16 May 2023, between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. It is fully ‘hybrid’, which means … Continue reading Politics and play in girls’ schools in England, 1870-1914

History of ParliamentLeave a comment
Conferences, Seminars and Events, 18th Century history, 19th Century history, 20th century history, Legal history, Modern

Liberalism, the law and Parliament in modern British history

Ahead of next Tuesday’s Parliaments, Politics and People seminar, we hear from Dr Ben Griffin of the University of Cambridge. On 2 May between 5.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m., Ben will discuss the relationship between liberalism, the law and Parliament in modern British history. The seminar takes place on 2 May 2023, between 5:30 and 6.30 p.m. You can attend online via Zoom. Details of … Continue reading Liberalism, the law and Parliament in modern British history

History of ParliamentLeave a comment
History of Parliament Trust, 19th Century history, 20th century history, Social history

2023 KS3 Schools Competition: How can political campaigns of the past inspire those of the present?

In collaboration with the Letters of Richard Cobden Online, the History of Parliament Trust is excited to announce their Key Stage 3 (11-14 y/o) History and Citizenship Competition: ‘How can political campaigns of the past inspire those of the present?’ ‘How can political campaigns of the past inspire those of the present?’ The History of Parliament is excited to once again be running its history … Continue reading 2023 KS3 Schools Competition: How can political campaigns of the past inspire those of the present?

History of Parliament1 Comment
Revolutionary Stuart Parliaments, 17th Century history, Charles II, James I to Restoration, Stuart

St Edward’s Crown: a Restoration gift from Parliament

During the coronation of King Charles III this May, he will be crowned with the St Edward’s Crown. Dr Andrew Barclay, senior research fellow of our House of Lords 1640-1660 project, reflects on the origin of this crown and its purpose as a gift to an earlier King Charles. The central act of King Charles III’s coronation on 6 May will be his crowning with the … Continue reading St Edward’s Crown: a Restoration gift from Parliament

History of Parliament5 Comments
Contemporary History, 20th century history, Elections, Modern, Oral history

What is in a role: differing views about MPs’ focus

For many MPs beginning their career before 2005, they started their job with no induction process or job description. Volunteer interviewer Peter Reilly reflects on his recent interview with David Howarth, MP for Cambridge 2005-2010, and asks the question: what is the role of an MP? What is the role of an MP? It must be a question many new MPs ask themselves. Yet, as … Continue reading What is in a role: differing views about MPs’ focus

History of ParliamentLeave a comment