Burning of Parliament

Burning of Parliament
Title	Burning of Parliament
Date	16 October 1834
Place	Palace of Westminster, London
Outcome	Destruction of much of the medieval Palace of Westminster; reconstruction leading to new Palace of Westminster

Burning of Parliament The destruction of much of the medieval Palace of Westminster on 16 October 1834 was a pivotal event in 19th-century British history that affected constitutional practice, architecture, and public culture. The blaze consumed historic chambers, royal apartments, and administrative records, prompting inquiries involving figures from the Tory Party and the Whig Party and spurring an international response from architects, artists, and parliamentarians. The catastrophe accelerated debates associated with Reform Act 1832, institutional transparency, and the symbolic locus of British monarchy and legislative authority.

Background

The medieval Westminster Palace had evolved since the Norman Conquest and the reign of Edward the Confessor into a complex hosting the House of Commons and the House of Lords alongside royal lodgings. The site contained the medieval St Stephen's Chapel, the old Commons chamber, and archival holdings dating back to the Magna Carta. By the early 19th century, concerns over fire risk, unsafe roofing, and poor ventilation were raised by officials including the Surveyor of the Works and members of parliamentary committees chaired by MPs from the Whig Party and the Tory Party. The administration of King William IV and ministers such as Earl Grey and Lord Melbourne dealt with maintenance disputes amid tensions shaped by the aftermath of the Reform Act 1832 and the public visibility of state architecture exemplified by projects like Buckingham Palace and the British Museum.

The Fire on 16 October 1834

On 16 October 1834, a fire ignited after the House of Lords ordered the destruction of tally sticks, a medieval accounting system kept in the Houses of Parliament, on the instructions of officials linked to the Office of Woods, Forests, and Land Revenues. Sparks from a furnace in the House of Lords attic are commonly cited as ignition points, and the conflagration spread rapidly through timber galleries, roof structures, and the timbered interiors associated with the St Stephen's Chapel. Firefighting efforts involved the London Fire Engine Establishment, local watchmen, and civic authorities including officials from Westminster and volunteer brigades inspired by the Great Fire of London precedent. Witnesses included MPs and peers such as members aligned with the Earl Grey administration and opposition colleagues from the Tory Party, while bystanders from districts like Whitehall and Westminster Abbey viewed the blaze.

Investigation and Cause

Investigations convened by parliamentary select committees and inquiry panels featured testimony from clerks, officers of the Exchequer, and craftsmen. Debates referenced the role of tally sticks retained from the Exchequer system, the proximity of flues and furnaces, and the negligence of officials responsible for the Surveyor of the Works. Leading legal figures and parliamentarians cited precedent from the Court of King's Bench and administrative practices under the Treasury. Some commentators drew connections to administrative reforms promoted by figures such as William Huskisson and criticized by publicists associated with The Times and pamphleteers in Punch.

Political and Public Reactions

The blaze provoked partisan exchanges in the House of Commons and the House of Lords over responsibility, funding for reconstruction, and transparency. Press outlets including The Times, The Morning Chronicle, and satirical journals mobilized public opinion; pamphleteers invoked constitutional symbolism associated with the Magna Carta and the Coronation Chair. International reactions came from figures in Paris, Vienna, and Washington, D.C., with comparative debates referencing reconstruction after the Versailles alterations and municipal firefighting reforms in New York City. Fundraising, proposals for temporary accommodations for parliamentary sittings in the Banqueting House and elsewhere, and legislative inquiries highlighted tensions between reformist and conservative factions.

Damage, Losses, and Salvage

The fire destroyed the medieval Commons chamber, the royal apartments including the Queen's Robing Room, and extensive archival materials such as Exchequer records and ancient rolls. Notable losses included furnishings, oak panelling, and medieval stained glass comparable to artifacts in Westminster Abbey and collections once held by the British Library. Salvage operations recovered items including the Coronation Chair (King Edward's Chair) and certain parliamentary manuscripts that were relocated to institutions like the Public Record Office and later to repositories associated with the British Museum and the National Archives. Monetary estimates and insurance debates involved the Board of Works and insurers operating in the City of London.

Rebuilding and Architectural Response

Parliament organized a competition that attracted architects from across Britain and continental Europe, including submissions referencing Gothic precedents such as Westminster Abbey and continental examples like Notre-Dame de Paris. The competition resulted in the selection of designs by Charles Barry and contributions by the young architect Augustus Pugin, who advocated for a Gothic Revival approach aligned with ecclesiastical examples like Salisbury Cathedral and secular precedents in the new Palace of Westminster. Reconstruction established the Houses of Parliament's current silhouette, with the Elizabeth Tower (later associated with Big Ben) and a revived Gothic vocabulary that influenced architects involved with the Victorian architecture movement and debates in journals such as the Architectural Review.

Legacy and Cultural Depictions

The catastrophe shaped Victorian identity, prompting artworks by painters who exhibited at institutions such as the Royal Academy of Arts and writings by commentators in The Times and literary figures aligned with the Romantic movement and later the Victorian literature milieu. The event features in visual culture including prints, engravings, and poems that link the loss to national narratives like the legacy of the Magna Carta and constitutional continuity embodied by the House of Commons and House of Lords. Memorialization influenced preservation discourse at institutions like the Victoria and Albert Museum and informed later conservation debates involving the National Trust and heritage legislation in the late 19th century.

Category:1834 in London Category:History of the Palace of Westminster