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Victorian, 19th Century history, Resources and Publications

The Politics of Organising in the Long 19th Century

Dr Naomi Lloyd-Jones, Research Fellow on the Victorian Commons project, has edited ‘The Politics of Organising in the Long 19th Century’, this year’s special issue of the journal Parliamentary History. The whole issue is free to read until the end of June 2026. This collection of 11 essays makes the case for a fresh approach to the history of extra-parliamentary politics that examines both the … Continue reading The Politics of Organising in the Long 19th Century

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19th Century history, Elections, Electoral Reform, Victorian Commons, Women and Parliament

Votes for women before and after 1832

Continuing our series on the practical workings of the UK’s historic voting system, Philip Salmon of our House of Commons, 1832-1868 project re-examines when and how some women could vote long before they secured equal electoral rights with men. Women’s participation in politics before 1918, when they acquired the parliamentary vote, is now well documented. After decades of neglect in older narratives, a wide range of … Continue reading Votes for women before and after 1832

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18th Century history, Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd duke of Grafton, Diplomacy and International Relations, Economic history, George III, Georgian, Georgian Lords, Military history, Parliamentary Life

Correcting the record: conciliation and reconciliation over America in 1776

Just a few months before the Declaration of Independence, last minute efforts were made to reconcile Britain and the American colonies. Dr Robin Eagles shows how former Prime Minister, the duke of Grafton, one of the most earnest advocates for finding a way out of the crisis, also took the opportunity of proposing a deal to halt hostilities to correct the official record of remarks … Continue reading Correcting the record: conciliation and reconciliation over America in 1776

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Conferences, Seminars and Events, 20th century history, Art, Fashion and Material Culture, Diplomacy and International Relations, Modern, Social history

Interwar literature, politics and East-central Europe

At the IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on Tuesday 16 June, Dr Juliette Bretan of Cambridge University will be discussing literary depictions of, and new proposals regarding, the politics of British involvement in East-central Europe during the interwar period. The seminar takes place on 16 June 2026, between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. It is fully ‘hybrid’, which means you can attend either in-person in London … Continue reading Interwar literature, politics and East-central Europe

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The Commons in the Wars of the Roses, 15th Century History, Buildings and Architecture, Local History, Medieval, Parliamentary Life

Lineage and Architectural Display: the ‘Golden Chapel’ at Tong (Shropshire) and the Commemoration of Sir Henry Vernon, governor of the household of Prince Arthur

Dr Simon Payling of our 1461-1504 section explores the life and remembrance of MP for Derbyshire Sir Henry Vernon, and his family’s enduring relationship with Tong (Shropshire). In the funerary landscape of late-medieval England, parish churches provided gentry families a hallowed setting, at the heart of their communities, in which their lineage and status could be publicly and enduringly expressed. The church of St Bartholomew at Tong in … Continue reading Lineage and Architectural Display: the ‘Golden Chapel’ at Tong (Shropshire) and the Commemoration of Sir Henry Vernon, governor of the household of Prince Arthur

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Revolutionary Stuart Parliaments, 17th Century history, Charles I, James I, Parliamentary Life, Religious history, Stuart

‘The strangest bill that ever I heard…’: Bishop Joseph Hall, the Church of England and the Long Parliament, 1640-1642

Dr Vivienne Larminie explores the political career of one of the most influential mid-seventeenth century bishops As the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Act of April 2026 reminds us, the composition of the Upper House has long been the subject of debate. One element of this has concerned the presence of faith leaders in general and of Church of England bishops in particular. This may … Continue reading ‘The strangest bill that ever I heard…’: Bishop Joseph Hall, the Church of England and the Long Parliament, 1640-1642

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Conferences, Seminars and Events, 17th Century history, History of Parliament Trust, Religious history, Stuart

Between Parliament and king: the politics of Convocation in early Stuart England

At the IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on Tuesday 2 June, Professor Eloise Davies of the University of Florida, will be discussing the politics of convocation in early Stuart England. The seminar takes place on 2 June 2026, between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. You can attend online via Zoom. Details of how to join the discussion are available here. The history of Convocation, the traditional … Continue reading Between Parliament and king: the politics of Convocation in early Stuart England

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Contemporary History, 20th century history, History of Parliament Trust, Legislative History, LGBTQ+ History, Margaret Thatcher, Modern, Oral history, Social history, Tony Blair

Section 28: Memories from the Oral History Archive

Section 28 of the Local Government Act, 1988, was one of the most controversial pieces of legislation in Britain at the end of the twentieth century. To mark the anniversary of its introduction, Alfie Steer has delved into the oral history archive to explore MPs’ memories of it. Section 28 (otherwise known as Clause 28) was first included in the 1988 Local Government Act as … Continue reading Section 28: Memories from the Oral History Archive

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19th Century history, Buildings and Architecture, Parliamentary Life, Victorian, Victorian Commons

Four prorogations and a conflagration: Parliament and its buildings in 1834

Continuing our series on parliamentary buildings, Dr Kathryn Rix of our House of Commons 1832-1945 project looks at the makeshift arrangements made for the prorogation in the aftermath of the devastating Westminster fire of October 1834. On 15 August 1834 the House of Commons assembled for the last day of the 1834 parliamentary session. Around seventy members were present in the chamber – the former St … Continue reading Four prorogations and a conflagration: Parliament and its buildings in 1834

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The First Elizabethan Age, 16th Century history, 17th Century history, Charles II, Henry VIII, Parliamentary Life, Stuart, Tudor

Processing to Parliament for the state opening in early modern England

Ceremonial processions were a key feature of the state opening of Parliament in the Tudor and early Stuart eras, just as they are today, but the form they took was very different from current practice, as Dr Paul Hunneyball of our Elizabethan Lords project explains… No modern state opening of Parliament would be complete without the impressive sight of the monarch travelling by coach from … Continue reading Processing to Parliament for the state opening in early modern England

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