Tag: St Stephen’s Chapel

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

‘Like herrings in a barrel’: the House of Commons chamber prior to 1834

When picturing the 19th-century Houses of Parliament, many people might think of the grand buildings designed by Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin which are still in use today. However, the Commons chamber they created was the third different debating chamber to be occupied by 19th-century MPs. Dr Kathryn Rix, Assistant Editor of our House of Commons 1832-1945 section, looks at the House of Commons chamber … Continue reading ‘Like herrings in a barrel’: the House of Commons chamber prior to 1834

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A coloured painting of the House of Commons chamber before the fire of 1834. looking into the chamber, in the middle at the back is the ornate golden speakers chair, with the Table of the House in front of it, each side, the chamber is full of MPs sitting on four rows of benches either side, there are also people standing behind and around the side. Above each side is a viewing gallery also full of people overlooking the chamber. The chamber walls a wooden with a dark golden brown polish, with black and gold detailed post holding up the galleries. There is a golden chandelier hanging low over the Table of the House, and behind the speaker is a set of three tall slim windows.
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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Victorian Commons, 19th Century history, Buildings and Architecture, Parliamentary Life, Victorian

‘A place of business’: the temporary chamber of the House of Commons, 1835-1851

As part of our series on parliamentary buildings, Dr Kathryn Rix of our House of Commons, 1832-1945 project looks at the temporary chamber used by the House of Commons from 1835 until 1851, after its previous chamber was destroyed by fire in October 1834. The devastating fire at the Palace of Westminster on 16 October 1834 made the House of Commons chamber in the former … Continue reading ‘A place of business’: the temporary chamber of the House of Commons, 1835-1851

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James I to Restoration, 17th Century history, Buildings and Architecture, Legal history, Parliamentary Life, Stuart

Alternative uses for the palace of Westminster: the early 17th-century picture

With the palace of Westminster requiring a major restoration programme, and some people suggesting that Parliament should permanently relocate to a new home, Dr Paul Hunneyball of the Lords 1604-29 section considers some of the uses to which the old Palace was put 400 years ago… Since the 19th century, the palace of Westminster has been synonymous with Parliament – but that wasn’t always the … Continue reading Alternative uses for the palace of Westminster: the early 17th-century picture

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Conferences, Seminars and Events, 19th Century history, Buildings and Architecture, Victorian

Parliaments, Politics and People seminar: Rebekah Moore, ‘Contested spaces: temporary houses of Parliament and government, 1834-52’

At our last ‘Parliaments, Politics and People’ seminar, Rebekah Moore, holder of an AHRC collaborative doctoral award with the History of Parliament and Institute of Historical Research, gave a paper on the temporary Houses of Parliament after the fire of 1834. Here Rebekah gives an overview of her paper… From 1557, the House of Commons was situated in St Stephen’s Chapel, one of the medieval … Continue reading Parliaments, Politics and People seminar: Rebekah Moore, ‘Contested spaces: temporary houses of Parliament and government, 1834-52’

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