Palace of Westminster: History and Architecture

• The Palace of Westminster in London is the meeting place of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
• It is commonly called the Houses of Parliament, referring to the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
• "Westminster" is a metonym for the UK Parliament and the British Government.
• The Westminster system of government is named after the palace.
• The Elizabeth Tower, nicknamed Big Ben, is a landmark.
• The palace was listed as a Grade I building in 1970 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
• Originally constructed in the 11th century, it served as a royal palace until 1512.
• A fire in 1512 destroyed the royal apartments, leading the monarch to relocate to Whitehall Palace.
• The palace continued to house the Parliament of England, which had convened there since the 13th century.
• A major fire in 1834 destroyed most of the palace.
• Westminster Hall from the 12th century survived this fire.
• Charles Barry won the competition to design the replacement palace, choosing a Gothic Revival style.
• Construction began in 1840 and lasted 30 years, marked by delays and the deaths of Barry and his assistant, Augustus Pugin.
• The palace includes chambers for the House of Commons, House of Lords, and the monarch.
• It has a floor area of 112, 476 m2
• Extensive repairs were needed after World War II, including rebuilding the Commons chamber.
• The Curia Regis, the predecessor to Parliament, met in Westminster Hall.
• The "Model Parliament," considered England's first, met at the palace in 1295.
• The Palace became the body's permanent home.
• St Stephen's Chapel was adapted for the Commons in the 16th century.
• The Lords used the Painted Chamber and, from 1801, the White Chamber.
• From the 18th century the palace underwent alterations

18th and 19th Century alterations

• New storage by John Vardy, completed in 1770
• New official residence for the Speaker of the House of Commons, completed in 1795
• Alterations and a new building by James Wyatt, completed in 1801
• Alterations by John Soane between 1824 and 1827
• Included new library facilities for both Houses of Parliament and new law courts for the Chancery and King's Bench.
• On October 16, 1834, an overheated stove set fire to the House of Lords Chamber, destroying both Houses of Parliament.
• Westminster Hall, the Jewel Tower, and parts of St Stephen's Chapel survived.

Palace Reconstruction

• William IV offered Buckingham Palace to Parliament, but it was rejected.
• The Painted Chamber and White Chamber were repaired for temporary use.
• Charles Barry's Perpendicular Gothic Revival design was selected, with Augustus Pugin designing details.
• The Lords Chamber was completed in 1847, and the Commons Chamber in 1852.
• Construction concluded a decade later.
• During World War II, the palace was bombed 14 times.
• September 26, 1940, a bomb bent the sword of the statue of Richard the Lionheart.
• May 10–11, 1941, the palace sustained twelve hits, resulting in three deaths.
• The roof of Westminster Hall was prioritised and saved, while the Commons Chamber was destroyed

Post War

• The Commons Chamber was rebuilt in a simplified style, completed in 1950.
• Office space was acquired in the Norman Shaw Building and Portcullis House.
• All Members of Parliament (MP) now have their own office facilities.
• The palace was designated a Grade I listed building in 1970 and a World Heritage Site in 1987.
• In January 2018, the House of Commons voted to vacate the palace for refurbishment, starting no sooner than 2025 and lasting at least six years.
• In September 2022, the Restoration and Renewal Client Board was formed.
• Charles Barry's design uses the Perpendicular Gothic style, aided by Augustus Pugin.
• Westminster Hall was incorporated into Barry's design.
• Pugin criticized the symmetrical layout, calling it "All Grecian, sir; Tudor details on a classic body".

Stonework

• In 1839, Charles Barry selected Anston limestone for the palace's reconstruction.
• Anston stone, a sand-coloured magnesian limestone, came from quarries in Anston, South Yorkshire, and Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire.
• Anston stone was cheaper, and "could be supplied in blocks up to four feet thick and lent itself to elaborate carving"
• The stone decayed due to pollution and poor quality.
• Clipsham stone, a honey-coloured limestone from Rutland, was used for replacement in the 1930s–1950s.
• A stone conservation and restoration program took place from 1981–1994.

Victoria Tower

• At the base is the Sovereign's Entrance, used by the monarch.
• It is a 15 m high archway decorated with sculptures.
• The main body houses the Parliamentary Archives, including Acts of Parliament since 1497.
• Atop the flagstaff is the Royal Standard when the Sovereign is present or the Union Flag.

Elizabeth Tower ("Big Ben")

• At 96 metres (315 ft) it is slightly shorter than the Victoria Tower.
• Renamed in 2012 to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II.
• Designed by Augustus Pugin after helping Barry design the palace.
• Houses the Great Clock, accurate to within a second.
• The four dials are 7 metres in diameter, made of milk glass, and lit from behind.
• The hour hand is 2. 7 metres long, and the minute hand 4. 3 metres

Central Tower

• The octagonal Central Tower is 91 metres (299 ft) high
• Stands above the Central Lobby
• Added for ventilation purposes but failed to fulfill its stated purpose
• "The first occasion when mechanical services had a real influence on architectural design,"

Other Towers

• St Stephen's Tower houses the public entrance.
• Speaker's Tower and Chancellor's Tower are at the river front's ends.
• Speaker's Tower contains Speaker's House, the Speaker of the Commons' official residence.
• Turrets mask ventilation shafts.

Gardens

• Victoria Tower Gardens is a public park south of the palace.
• Black Rod's Garden is a private entrance.
• Old Palace Yard is paved and covered in security blocks.
• Cromwell Green, New Palace Yard, and Speaker's Green are private.
• College Green is used for television interviews.

Interior Layout

• The Palace of Westminster contains over 1, 100 rooms, 100 staircases, and 4. 8 kilometres of passageways.
• The ground floor has offices, dining rooms, and bars.
• The first floor includes debating chambers, the lobbies, and the libraries
• The top two floors are used as committee rooms and offices.
• Interiors were designed by J. G. Crace, Pugin, and others.
• The building is planned around the Central Lobby.
• Corridors lead to the Commons Chamber, the Lords Chamber, Westminster Hall.
• The Royal Apartments are for the monarch.

Entrances

• The Sovereign's Entrance is at the base of the Victoria Tower.
• Members of the House of Lords use the Peers' Entrance.
• Members of Parliament enter from the Members' Entrance in New Palace Yard.
• St Stephen's Entrance is the public entrance.

Sovereign's Entrance

• Beneath the Victoria Tower, it is used by the monarch and visiting dignitaries.
• A staircase leads to the principal floor.
• The Norman Porch contains stained glass windows depicting Edward the Confessor and Queen Victoria.
• Busts of prime ministers are on the plinths for the statues.

Robing Room

• Located at the southern end of the palace.
• Where the Sovereign prepares for the State Opening of Parliament.
• Includes a chair of state and a marble fireplace with gilded statuettes.
• Decorative theme based on the legend of King Arthur.
• William Dyce painted five frescoes depicting allegorical scenes.
• Henry Hugh Armstead created 18 bas-reliefs in oak.
• Used briefly as the House of Lords chamber after the Blitz.

Royal Gallery

• Measuring 33. 5 by 13. 7 metres (110 by 45 ft)
• It serves as the stage for the royal procession at State Openings of Parliament.
• Used for addresses by foreign statesmen and receptions.
• Decorated two murals by Daniel Maclise: The Death of Nelson and The Meeting of Wellington and Blücher after the Battle of Waterloo
• Eight statues of gilded Caen stone depict monarchs during key battles.
• The panelled ceiling features Tudor roses and lions.
• Stained-glass windows show the coats of arms of the Kings of England and Scotland.

Prince's Chamber

• A small anteroom between the Royal Gallery and the Lords Chamber.
• Members of the Lords meet to discuss business.
• Decorated with 28 oil portraits of members of the Tudor dynasty
• 12 bronze bas-reliefs by William Theed depict historical scenes.
• Contains a statue of Queen Victoria, seated on a throne.

Chamber of the House of Lords

• Located in the southern part of the Palace of Westminster.
• Measures 13. 7 by 24. 4 metres (45 by 80 ft)
• Decorated with stained glass windows and allegorical frescoes.
• Features the Canopy and Throne at the south end.
• The Woolsack, a red cushion stuffed with wool, is used by the presiding officer.
• Red benches accommodate members of the House.
• The Lords Spiritual occupy the Spiritual Side and the Lords Temporal occupy the Temporal Side.
• The Chamber is the site of the State Opening of Parliament.
• During the Blitz, the Lords' chamber was occupied by the Commons

Peers' Lobby

• An antechamber where Lords can informally discuss matters.
• Measures 12 metres (39 ft) on each side and 10 metres (33 ft) in height
• Features a floor centrepiece with a Tudor rose The walls display arms representing royal dynasties.
• The Brass Gates lead into the Lords Chamber.
• Side doors open into corridors and the Moses Room.
• The Peers' Corridor is decorated with murals by Charles West Cope depicting historical scenes from the English Civil War.
• The scenes depict struggles for national liberties.

Central Lobby

• Located directly below the Central Tower.
• Connects the House of Lords, House of Commons, St Stephen's Hall.
• Considered the "political centre of the British Empire".
• Constituents meet their Members of Parliament here.
• Measures 18 metres (59 ft) across and 23 metres (75 ft) from the floor to the ceiling.
• Contains Venetian glass mosaic, heraldic symbols, and statues of English and Scottish monarchs.
• Tympana above doorways display mosaics of patron saints.

East Corridor

• It leads from the Central Lobby to the Lower Waiting Hall
• Includes scenes from Tudor history, paid for by Liberal peers.

Commons' Corridor

• Mirrors the design of the East Corridor.
• Decorated with scenes of 17th-century political history.

Members' Lobby

• Antechamber where Members of Parliament hold discussions.
• Rebuilt in a simplified style after the 1941 bombing.
• The Rubble Arch remains unrepaired as a reminder of war.
• Contains statues of Winston Churchill and David Lloyd George.

Chamber of the House of Commons

• At the northern end of the Palace of Westminster; opened in 1950.
• Measures 14 by 20. 7 metres (46 by 68 ft)
• The benches are coloured green.
• Features the Speaker's Chair at the north end.
• The Table of the House holds the Commons' ceremonial mace
• Green benches accommodate members, with Government on the Speaker's right and Opposition on the left.
• British Sovereign does not enter the Chamber of the House of Commons since 1642.
• Two red lines on the floor are 2. 5 metres (8 ft 2 in) apart
• Originally designed to be just over two sword-lengths

Westminster Hall

• A large medieval great hall and the oldest surviving palace building.
• Erected in 1097 for William II
• Used for judicial purposes, coronation banquets, and lyings in state.
• Features a hammerbeam roof measuring 20. 7 by 73. 2 metres (68 by 240 ft)
• The roof was commissioned for Richard II in 1393 and built by Hugh Herland.
• Remodelled by Henry Yevele, who added statues of kings.

Other Rooms

• House of Lords Library and House of Commons Library
• The Speaker’s official residence stands at the northern end of the palace
• The Lord Chancellor's apartments are at the southern end.

Facilities

• Strangers' Bar, cafeterias, and restaurants.
• Gymnasium and a hair salon.
• Souvenir shops.

Security

• The security for the House of Lords is overseen by Black Rod and for the House of Commons by the Serjeant at Arms.
• Parliament has its own professional security force.
• Concrete blocks and a river exclusion zone are in place.
• Protests near the palace are restricted.
• Visitors pass through metal detectors and their possessions are scanned.

Historic attacks and Incidents

• The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 aimed to assassinate King James I.
• Prime Minister Spencer Perceval was assassinated in 1812.
• Fenian bombs targeted the New Palace in 1885.
• The Provisional IRA bombed Westminster Hall in 1974.
• Airey Neave was assassinated by a car bomb in 1979.
• Numerous acts of politically motivated "direct action" have taken place.

Rules and Customs

• Smoking is not allowed in the chamber of the House of Commons.
• Members may take snuff.
• Formal attire is expected.
• Speeches may not be read out.
• Applause is not normally allowed.

Legal and Artistic Aspects

• The building's status as a royal palace carries legal implications.
• Claude Monet painted a series of canvasses depicting the Palace of Westminster.

Recognition

• The exterior of the Palace of Westminster is recognised worldwide.
• UNESCO recognises the Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey, and St Margaret's as a World Heritage Site.
• It is also a Grade I listed building.

Access

• UK residents may obtain tickets from an MP or a Lord.
• Public can queue for admission to the viewing gallery
• Free guided tours are held for UK residents
• Paid-for tours are available
• The nearest London Underground station is Westminster.