Palace of Westminster

• The Palace of Westminster is where the Parliament of the United Kingdom meets, located in London, England.
• It is also referred to as the Houses of Parliament, named after the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the building's two legislative chambers.
• "Westminster" is a symbol for the UK Parliament and the British Government.
• The Westminster system of government is named in honor of the palace.
• The Elizabeth Tower, also known as Big Ben, is a famous landmark of London and the UK.
• It has been a Grade I listed building since 1970 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
• The building was originally a royal palace in the 11th century and served as the main home for English kings until 1512, when a fire destroyed the royal apartments.
• The monarch moved to Whitehall Palace, but the rest of the palace remained the meeting place for 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 and was incorporated into the new building.
• Charles Barry won the competition to design the new palace, choosing a Gothic Revival style.
• Construction commenced in 1840 and lasted 30 years, facing delays, cost issues, and the deaths of Barry and his assistant, Augustus Pugin.
• The palace houses chambers for the House of Commons, House of Lords, and the monarch, covering an area of 112, 476 m2 (1, 210, 680 sq ft).
• Extensive repairs followed the Second World War, which included rebuilding the destroyed Commons chamber.
• The Curia Regis, Parliament's predecessor, convened in Westminster Hall during the king's residency.
• The "Model Parliament," regarded as England's first Parliament, met at the palace in 1295, becoming the body's permanent residence.
• St Stephen's Chapel was adapted for the Commons' use in the 16th century, while the Lords utilized the Painted Chamber and, from 1801, the White Chamber due to the lack of purposefully built chambers.

Alterations and Fire

• Significant alterations occurred from the 18th century, including new storage and committee rooms by John Vardy (1770), a new residence for the Speaker (1795), and alterations by James Wyatt (1801).
• Sir John Soane completed further alterations between 1824 and 1827, adding new library facilities and law courts.
• A fire on 16 October 1834, caused by an overheated stove destroying tally sticks, gutted the House of Lords Chamber.
• Both Houses of Parliament were destroyed and Westminster Hall, the Jewel Tower, and parts of St Stephen's Chapel were the only parts of the palace to survive.
• William IV offered Buckingham Palace to Parliament, but it was deemed unsuitable.
• The Painted Chamber and White Chamber were quickly repaired for temporary use.
• Charles Barry's Perpendicular Gothic Revival design was selected, with Augustus Pugin contributing details.
• The Lords Chamber was finished in 1847, and the Commons Chamber in 1852.
• Construction concluded a decade later, in 1860.

Second World War and Later Developments

• The palace was bombed 14 times during the Second World War.
• A bomb in 1940 damaged the statue of Richard the Lionheart, an image used to symbolize democracy's resilience.
• The worst raid occurred on 10–11 May 1941, resulting in three deaths and setting fire to the Commons Chamber and Westminster Hall.
• The Commons Chamber was rebuilt in a simplified style by 1950.
• Parliament acquired the Norman Shaw Building (1975) and Portcullis House (2000) for additional office space.
• 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.
• A complete refurbishment, expected to last at least six years, is urgently needed.
• In January 2018, the House of Commons voted for both houses to vacate the palace for renovations starting no sooner than 2025.
• In September 2022, the Restoration and Renewal Client Board was formed to oversee the works.

Architectural Style and Stone

• Charles Barry's design uses the Perpendicular Gothic style, influenced by the 15th century and the Gothic revival.
• Barry collaborated with Augustus Pugin, who designed details, although he was dissatisfied with Barry's symmetrical layout.
• Anston limestone from South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire was selected for the rebuild due to its quality and transport via waterways.
• The Anston stone decayed quickly because of pollution and poor quality.
• Clipsham stone, a honey-colored limestone from Rutland, was used to replace the decayed Anston stone starting in the 1930s and completed in the 1950s.
• A stone conservation and restoration program took place from 1981 to 1994.

Towers and Flags

• Victoria Tower has the Sovereign's Entrance at its base, used by the monarch for state occasions.
• The Parliamentary Archives are housed inside the tower.
• The Royal Standard flies from the flagstaff atop the cast-iron pyramidal roof when the Sovereign is present; otherwise, the Union Flag is flown.
• Elizabeth Tower, commonly "Big Ben", stands at 96 metres (315 ft).
• Designed by Augustus Pugin, it houses the Great Clock, accurate to within a second, built by Edward John Dent using designs by Edmund Beckett Denison.
• The time is displayed on four 7-metre (23 ft) diameter milk glass dials lit from behind.
• Central Tower is an octagonal tower, standing at 91 metres (299 ft), located centrally.
• Dr. David Boswell Reid requested that the tower be built to ventilate "vitiated air".
• St Stephen's Tower is positioned on the west front, and houses the public entrance.
• Speaker's Tower and Chancellor's Tower are located on the river front, named after the presiding officers of the two Houses.
• Turrets are on the building's skyline which hide ventilation shafts.

Gardens and Grounds

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

Interior Layout and Key Rooms

• The Palace of Westminster has over 1, 100 rooms, 100 staircases, and 4. 8 kilometres (3 mi) of passageways across four floors.
• The ground floor consists of offices, dining rooms, and bars.
• The main rooms, including debating chambers, lobbies, and libraries, are on the first floor.
• Committee rooms and offices occupy the top two floors.
• J. G. Crace collaborated with Pugin and others on interior designs.
• The palace is planned around the Central Lobby, which connects the Commons Chamber, Lords Chamber, public entrance, Westminster Hall, committee rooms, and libraries.
• The Royal Apartments are available for the monarch's use.
• There are separate entrances for the monarch, members of the House of Lords, members of Parliament, and the public.
• The Sovereign's Entrance is at the base of the Victoria Tower.
• Members of the House of Lords use the Peers' Entrance in Old Palace Yard.
• Members of Parliament use the Members' Entrance in New Palace Yard.
• St Stephen's Entrance is the public entrance.

Sovereign’s Entrance and Robing Room

• The Sovereign’s Entrance is beneath the Victoria Tower, designed for, and primarily used by, the monarch during the State Opening of Parliament.
• The entrance leads to a 26-step granite staircase to the Norman Porch, named for a never-completed decorative scheme of Norman king statues and frescoes.
• The porch features stained glass windows and busts of prime ministers.
• The Robing Room, at the south end of the palace’s north-south axis, is where the Sovereign prepares for the State Opening, donning official robes and the Imperial State Crown. -Its focal point is the chair of state under a canopy adorned with national emblems.
• The room's decorative theme centers on the legend of King Arthur, with frescoes by William Dyce depicting allegorical scenes of chivalric virtues.
• Bas-reliefs and a frieze display Arthurian imagery, with the room briefly serving as the House of Lords' chamber after the Blitz.

Royal Gallery, Prince's Chamber, and Lords Chamber

• Is one of the largest rooms in the palace.
• The Royal Gallery serves as the stage for the royal procession at State Openings and has been used for addresses by foreign statesmen and receptions.
• It displays documents from the Parliamentary Archives and features two large paintings by Daniel Maclise depicting British military history, like the Death of Nelson and the Meeting of Wellington and Blücher.
• Statues of monarchs during key battles flank doorways, and decorated panels and stained-glass windows adorn the room.
• Lies between the Royal Gallery and the Lords Chamber.
• The Prince's Chamber, named after a similar room in the Old Palace of Westminster, is where Lords meet to discuss House business. -It connects to division lobbies and features Tudor history themes, including portraits of Tudor dynasty members and bronze bas-reliefs of historical scenes.
• Copies of Armada tapestries and a statue of Queen Victoria with allegorical figures are also present.
• The sculptural ensemble reminds the monarch of their royal duties during State Openings.
• Houses national ceremonies, including the State Opening.
• The Chamber of the House of Lords is located in the palace’s southern part, lavishly decorated with red furnishings, stained glass windows, and allegorical frescoes.
• The south end features the Canopy and Throne, used by the Sovereign during the State Opening. -The Woolsack in front of the Throne is used by the presiding officer, while the Judges' Woolsack is for judicial representatives.
• Members occupy red benches on either side, with Lords Spiritual and Temporal seated according to affiliation.
• The Sovereign delivers the Speech from the Throne during the State Opening, with the Commons watching from beyond the Bar of the House.

Peers’ Lobby, Central Lobby, and Corridors

• The Peers’ Lobby is an antechamber for Lords to discuss matters informally.
• It features a Tudor rose floor centrepiece and walls adorned with arms representing royal dynasties.
• The most magnificent doorway leads to the Lords Chamber.
• Side doors connect to the Law Lords Corridor and the Moses Room.
• The Peers’ Corridor has murals by Charles West Cope depicting historical scenes from around the English Civil War.
• Is the heart of the palace.
• The Central Lobby, also known as Octagon Hall, is positioned centrally beneath the Central Tower, serving as the link between the House of Lords, House of Commons, St Stephen’s Hall, and the public entrance.
• Its location makes it the "political centre of the British Empire."
• Constituents can meet with their MPs here and is also the theatre for the Speaker’s Procession.
• Venetian glass mosaic covers the ceiling panels, and statues of English and Scottish monarchs stand in ornamented arches.
• The tympana above the doorways displays mosaics of the patron saints of the United Kingdom.
• Four statues of 19th-century statesmen stand under high windows, and a Latin passage from Psalm 127 is written on the tiled floor.
• The East Corridor extending from the Central Lobby toward the Lower Waiting Hall, with its six panels decorated in 1910, featuring significant scenes of Tudor history.
• Scenes are paid for by Liberal peers and each worked on by a different artist. Uniformity was achieved through color.

Commons’ Corridor, Members’ Lobby and Chamber

• Extending north of the Central Lobby, it mirrors the design of its southern counterpart.
• The Commons' Corridor showcases scenes from 17th-century political history between the Civil War and the Revolution of 1688.
• Is where MPs negotiate and can be interviewed.
• The Members’ Lobby mirrors the Peers’ Lobby but looks more plain, though slightly bigger.
• Reconstructed in a simplified style after heavy damage sustained in the 1941 bombing, the Lobby features the Rubble Arch (Churchill Arch).
• The archway leads directly into the Commons Chamber is flanked by bronze statues of past prime ministers.
• The Member's Lobby contains busts/statues of 20th-century prime ministers plus boards for MPs to see messages.
• Is located at the parliament's northern end. - The Chamber of the House of Commons opened in 1950 after the Victorian site of the chamber had been destroyed in 1941 and had been reconstructed under architect Gile Gilbert Scott.
• Measuring 14 by 20. 7 metres (46 by 68 ft), it is plainer than the Lords Chamber with green furnishings.
• No members of the public are allowed upon the benches.
• Commonwealth parliaments, including those of India, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have copied the color schemes associating the green in the Lower House and the Red in the Upper House.
• At the Chamber's northern-most end is the Speaker's Chair from Australia.
• The Table was a gift from Canada.
• The dispatch boxes are a gift from New Zealanders.
• The British Sovereign does not enter the House - The last monarch to do so was King Charles I, in 1642.
• The two red lines on the House's floor are just over 2 sword-lengths.
• MPs may not speak across the lines, opposition will lambaste them. Is a great medieval hall.

Westminster Hall

• Was built in 1097 for William II.
• The hall has served over the years as judicial, served to host coronation banquets (until 19th century, hosted lyings in state and ceremonial funerals.
• Is especially notable for its 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.
• At the same time the rest of the hall was remodelled by the master mason Henry Yevele, who refaced the walls and added fifteen life-size statues of kings placed in niches. The renovations include depictions of Richard's favorite badge, a resting chained white hart.

Libraries and Other Facilities

• There are libraries on the Principal Floor, overlooking the river, for the House of Lords and House of Commons.
• The Palace of Westminster includes state apartments for the presiding officers of the two houses.
• The Speaker's official residence sits at the northern end of the palace.
• The Lord Chancellor's apartments are at the southern end.
• The Strangers' Bar is one of many establishment choices in the palace.
• Other facility options are a gymnasium, a hair salon, and (previously) a rifle range.

Security and Protests

• Black Rod is in charge of security for the House of Lords; the Serjeant at Arms the House of Commons.
• Tradition dictates that only the Serjeant at Arms may enter the Commons chamber armed.
• A perimeter of concrete blocks was installed to make sure a vehicle full of explosives can't make it in.
• An exclusion zone on the river extending 70 metres (77 yd) from the bank exists - no unauthorized vessels are allowed to enter.
• Members of the public are permitted access to the Strangers' Gallery in the House of Commons.
• Officers from the Palace of Westminster Division of the Metropolitan Police, with backup armed police from the Diplomatic Protection Group, are on duty in and around the palace.

Historical Events and Incidents

• The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 conspiracy where group Catholics planned to kill King James I failed following its discovery and capture of the culprits.
• They were tortured in the Tower of London, tried for high treason in Westminster Hall, convicted & gruesomely executed.
• Since the plot, the cellars of the palace have been searched before every State Opening of Parliament.
• The execution of Sir Walter Raleigh occurred at the palace on 29 October 1618.
• Spencer Perceval was shot and killed on 11 May 1812 while in the lobby of the House of Commons.
• He is the only British Prime Minister to have ever been assasinated
• The New Palace became the target of Fenian bombs on 24 January 1885.
• On 17 June 1974, a 9-kilogram (20 lb) bomb planted by the Provisional IRA exploded in Westminster Hall, injuring 11.
• Five years later, the politician Airey Neave, was blown up by a car bomb.
• In July 1970, a man threw tear gas into the Commons chamber; and in 1978 bags of manure were spread.
• 2004, a glass screen was installed across the Strangers' Gallery.
• Several people have interrupted proceedings in the Commons Chamber - In September 2004, five protesters ran into the Chamber.
• Protests such as scaling and banner-hanging, have taken place outside the palace - In the past, Greenpeace even made it to the Palace of Westminster's roof.
• 2017, 5 people were killed in a terror attack and 2019, eleven people were arrested after gluing themselves in during a Brexit debate.

Rules and Customs

• The smoking of anything has not been allowed in the House of Commons since the 17th century and so members can often be found taking snuff.
• Men are expected to be wearing formal attire, women are expected to dress in business-like clothing and the wearing of T-shirts with slogans is not allowed.
• Hats/military decorations are not to be worn in chamber.
• The only animals allowed in the Palace are guide dogs, police dogs and police horses.
• Speeches may not be read out and visual aids are discouraged within the Chamber.
• Applause is not normally allowed in the Commons, but it has since been tolerated in certain cases.

Legal Status and Tourism

• The building is a royal palace which raises legal questions.
• Arrests are not possible within the perimeter, but have happened in the past according to the Clerk of the House of Commons.
• It's possible to obtain tickets from an MP or Member of the House of Lords for a place in gallery.
• The Palace, along with Westminster Abbey and St. Margaret's, is a World Heritage Site.