Palace of Westminster: History and Architecture

Study Notes

The Palace of Westminster serves as the meeting place for the Parliament of the United Kingdom, situated in London, England.
It's commonly referred to as the Houses of Parliament, named after the House of Commons and the House of Lords, which are the two legislative chambers within the building.
"Westminster" is a metonym for the UK Parliament, the British Government, and the Westminster system of government.
The Elizabeth Tower, often called Big Ben, is a notable landmark of London and the UK.
Since 1970, the Palace has been a Grade I listed building and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
Originally built in the 11th century, it functioned as a royal palace, serving as the main residence for the kings of England until 1512, when a fire led the monarch to relocate to the nearby Palace of Whitehall.
The Parliament of England had been meeting there since the 13th Century.
A major fire in 1834 destroyed most of the palace, but the 12th-century Westminster Hall was preserved and integrated into the new structure.
Charles Barry won the competition to design the new palace, opting for a Gothic Revival style.
Construction began in 1840 and took 30 years, facing delays, budget issues, and the deaths of both Barry and his assistant, Augustus Pugin.
The palace includes chambers for the House of Commons, House of Lords, and the monarch, covering a floor area of 112,476 m2 (1,210,680 sq ft).
Significant repairs were necessary after World War II, including the reconstruction of the destroyed Commons chamber.
The palace is in urgent need of major repairs, despite ongoing conservation efforts.