Parliamentary Life
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Bloomsbury Square and the Gordon Riots
For almost 20 years, Bloomsbury Square has been the home to the History of Parliament. In the latest post for the Georgian Lords, Dr Robin Eagles considers the history of the square in one of its most turbulent periods. Bloomsbury…
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‘I shall persist’: Joseph Brotherton (1783-1857) and late hours in the Commons
Among the new constituencies created by the 1832 Reform Act was Salford, whose first MP, Joseph Brotherton, proved to be a notably hard-working member of the Commons. Dr Kathryn Rix, Assistant Editor of our House of Commons, 1832-1945 project, examines…
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Some thoughts on William Pulteney, earl of Bath
The 31 May 2025 marks Dr Stuart Handley’s last day at the History of Parliament. One of his last biographies for The House of Lords, 1715-90 has been William Pulteney, earl of Bath. It will be the third History of…
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Oliver Cromwell’s ‘Other House’ and the perils of Lords ‘reform’
In this guest post, Dr Jonathan Fitzgibbons of Lincoln University, looks at a constitutional issue from the 1650s with obvious contemporary relevance: the place of the House of Lords. As politicians continue to debate the House of Lords’ future, including…
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The Commons at work: the Chairman of Ways and Means
The Speaker of the House of Commons is a remarkably familiar figure to television audiences around the world. Anyone viewing budget debates, though, will notice a different person occupying the Speaker’s chair: the ‘chairman of ways and means’. In this…
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A Meddlesome Mother? Queen Charlotte and the Regency Crisis
In October 1788, George III fell ill with an unknown ‘malady’ which rendered him unable to fulfil his duties as sovereign: the beginning of the king’s famous ‘madness’. In the latest post for the Georgian Lords, we welcome Dr Natalee…
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Marginalizing the Lords Journals, 1640-9
Ahead of next Tuesday’s Parliaments, Politics and People seminar, we hear from Dr Alex Beeton. On 10 December he will discuss the creation and use of the Lords Journals during the 1640s. The seminar takes place on 10 December 2024,…
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Tales from the Green Benches: An Oral History of Parliament
This week, The History of Parliament Trust is excited to announce a new podcast series, ‘Tales from the Green Benches: An Oral History of Parliament’. Since 2012, the History of Parliament has been interviewing former members of the House of…
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Dining in the Palace of Varieties: institutional culture, society living and party management in the Victorian House of Commons
Ahead of next Tuesday’s Parliaments, Politics and People seminar, we hear from Professor Paul Seaward, former Director of the History of Parliament. On 29 October he will discuss Dining in the Palace of Varieties: institutional culture, society living and party management…
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Property, profit, principle and hazard: being an MP during the civil wars and interregnum
Being an MP during the civil wars and interregnum came with a certain amount of danger. The decisions that MPs made often came with severe consequences. Dr Vivienne Larminie, assistant editor for the House of Commons 1640-1660, reflects on the…
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Picturing the Parliament of 1523
What did a meeting of the English Parliament look like 500 years ago? The earliest-known image of a state opening offers important clues, but also requires careful interpretation, as Dr Paul Hunneyball of our Lords 1558-1603 section explains… The picture…
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For St Valentine’s Day, a sad story about marital devotion from Civil War and Restoration Suffolk – or is it?
This Valentine’s Day, Paul Seaward, Director of the History of Parliament, reflects on the marital devotion of Sir Henry North, and questions how devoted North truly was… In the parish church at Mildenhall, Suffolk, close by the chancel, there is…