The Palace of Westminster

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" class="noJS"> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=7YQSqjSh" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.parliament.uk:80/about/living-heritage/building/palace/","20111221103744","https://web.archive.org/","web","https://web-static.archive.org/_static/", "1324463864"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=p7PEIJWi" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/web/20111221103744im_/http://www.parliament.uk/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="projection,screen" href="/web/20111221103744cs_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/css/reset.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="projection,screen" href="/web/20111221103744cs_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/css/grid.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="projection,screen" href="/web/20111221103744cs_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/css/main.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="print" href="/web/20111221103744cs_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/css/print.css"/>    <link rel="Stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/web/20111221103744cs_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/css/sub-landing/sub-landing.css"/> <script type="text/javascript"> (function () { try { document.documentElement.className = 'js'; } catch (e) { } })();</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20111221103744js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/jquery-1.4.2.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20111221103744js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/jquery.equalheights.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20111221103744js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/parliament-uk.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20111221103744js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/swfobject.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20111221103744js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/slideshow.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ $(document).ready(function(){ var settings = { main:{ advancedSearchAjaxUrl: '/AJAX/MemberNames.ashx', edmMembersAjaxUrl: '/AJAX/EdmMembers.ashx', calendarListingAjaxUrl: '/AJAX/CalendarMonth.ashx', publicationsAndRecordsInitialShow: 3, slideshowAjaxUrl: '/AJAX/ImageGallery.ashx' }, woa:{ ajaxFlashZoomArtworkUrl: '/AJAX/ImageZoom.ashx' }, masterPage: 'threecolumn', pageType: 'main-sub-landing-advanced', pageInstanceId: '25681' } parliamentUK.init(settings); }); /*]]>*/ </script> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"/> <meta name="title" content="The Palace Of Westminster"/> <meta name="keywords" content=""/> <meta name="description" content="The history of the Houses of Parliament spans over 900 years from the Anglo-Saxons to the present"/> <meta name="Date" content="2010-04-26 01:40:52"/> <meta name="language" content="English"/> <meta name="viewport" content="width=940"/> <meta name="sections" content="Parliament home page~About Parliament~Living Heritage~The building & its collections~The Palace of Westminster"/> <title> The Palace of Westminster - UK Parliament </title></head> <body class="main"> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ //load any sub-site JavaScript files (if required) parliamentUK.loadSubSiteJavaScript($(document.body).attr('class')); /*]]>*/ </script> <form name="aspnetForm" method="post" action="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/" id="aspnetForm"> <div> <input type="hidden" name="__VIEWSTATE" id="__VIEWSTATE" value="/wEPDwULLTE0NzAxNzQyNTdkZAHe4k39oBg+PLcgNuyQp5xafmJe"/> </div> <script src="/web/20111221103744js_/http://www.parliament.uk/ScriptResource.axd?d=xGaghmX67eZMqQrjn9_owpLgYT0J3wa6Rsq_OiD8AmTAzGd9balscFDKON1hxdHWEo29M5eCRGvV7FYOaXmjekHBseVWa3g5fhM9zpnRjIy4PZ91nxdE0KM2qHp_rX2TMwNu2ZDm5zvaKFmv4QVzOBhZZOo1&t=fffffffff9d85fa6" type="text/javascript"></script> <div id="wrapper" class=""> <div id="header"> <div id="skiplink"><a href="#skipToContent">Skip to content</a></div> <a href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/"><img src="/web/20111221103744im_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/images/parliament-uk-logo.gif" alt="Parliament UK"/></a> <fieldset class="site-search"> <ul> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl01_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/accessibility/">Accessibility</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl02_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/email-alerts/">Email alerts</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl03_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/rss-feeds/">RSS feeds</a></li> <li class="last"><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl04_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/contact-us/">Contact us</a></li> </ul> <legend>Site search</legend> <div> <ol> <li> <label for="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlSearch_txtSearch" id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlSearch_lblSearch" class="access">Search</label> <input name="ctl00$ctl00$ctlGlobalHeader$ctlSearch$txtSearch" type="text" id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlSearch_txtSearch"/> </li> </ol> <input type="submit" name="ctl00$ctl00$ctlGlobalHeader$ctlSearch$btnSearch" value="Search" id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlSearch_btnSearch"/> </div> <ul id="search-options"> <li class="last"><a href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/search/advanced/">Advanced search</a></li> </ul> </fieldset> <div id="navigation"> <ul id="level-1"> <li><a href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/business/">Parliamentary business</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/">MPs, Lords & offices</a></li> <li class="over"><a href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/">About Parliament</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/">Get involved</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/">Visiting</a></li> <li class="last"><a href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/education/">Education</a></li> </ul> <ul id="level-2"> <li><a href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/">How Parliament works</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/">About MPs, Lords & officers</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/faqs/">FAQs</a></li> <li class="over"><a href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/">Living Heritage</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/art-in-parliament/">Art in Parliament</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/images/">Images</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/podcasts/">Watch and Listen</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/working/">Jobs</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="breadcrumb"> <div class="inner"> <strong>You are here:</strong> <ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/">Parliament home page</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/">About Parliament</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/">Living Heritage</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/">The building & its collections</a></li><li>The Palace of Westminster</li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div id="secondary-navigation"> <ul><li class="grand-parent"><a href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/">Living Heritage</a><ul><li class="grand-parent"><a href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/">The building & its collections</a><ul><li class="parent"><a href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/">The Palace of Westminster</a><ul><li><a href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/estatehistory/">History of the Parliamentary estate</a></li><li><a href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/architecture/">Architecture of the Palace</a></li><li><a href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/big-ben/">Big Ben</a></li><li><a href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/westminsterhall/">Westminster Hall</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul> </div> <div id="content" class="three-column"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20111221103744im_/http://assets3.parliament.uk/iv/main-section-billboard/id_1170.jpg" id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlSectionBillboard_imgMainBanner" alt=""/> <div id="content-small"> <a name="skipToContent"></a> <h1 id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_HeadingOne_ctlHeadingH1_h1Item"> The Palace of Westminster </h1>  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>The history of the Houses of Parliament spans over 900 years from the Anglo-Saxons to the present </p> </div>  <div class="tabs-wrapper parent"> </div> <div id="sub-landing-advanced"> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/estatehistory/">History of the Parliamentary estate</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl00_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctlMainImageThumb_hypImageLink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/estatehistory/"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20111221103744im_/http://assets3.parliament.uk/iv/main-thumb-square/id_1135.jpg" id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl00_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctlMainImageThumb_imgThumbWithLink" alt=""/></a> <p>The early history of the Palace of Westminster from the 11th century to the fire of 1834</p> <ul class="square-bullets"> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl00_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl01_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl00_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl01_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/estatehistory/the-middle-ages/">The Middle Ages</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl00_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl02_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl00_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl02_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/estatehistory/reformation-1834/">From the Reformation to 1834</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl00_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl03_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl00_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl03_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/estatehistory/key-dates-parl-estate/">Key dates</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl00_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl04_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl00_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl04_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/estatehistory/contemporary-context-parl-estate/">Contemporary Context</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl00_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl05_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl00_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl05_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/estatehistory/further-your-research-parl-estate/">Further your research</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl00_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl06_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl00_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl06_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/estatehistory/collections/">From the Parliamentary collections</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/architecture/">Architecture of the Palace</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl01_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctlMainImageThumb_hypImageLink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/architecture/"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20111221103744im_/http://assets3.parliament.uk/iv/main-thumb-square/id_1298.jpg" id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl01_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctlMainImageThumb_imgThumbWithLink" alt=""/></a> <p>Read about the current Palace of Westminster as designed by architect Sir Charles Barry</p> <ul class="square-bullets"> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl01_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl01_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl01_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl01_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/architecture/palacestructure/">The Palace's structure</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl01_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl02_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl01_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl02_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/architecture/palace-s-interiors/">Palace's interiors</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl01_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl03_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl01_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl03_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/architecture/key-dates-fire1834-to-present/">Key dates</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl01_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl04_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl01_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl04_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/architecture/the-palace-today/">Palace today</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl01_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl05_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl01_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl05_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/architecture/collections/">From the Parliamentary Collections</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl01_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl06_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl01_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl06_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/architecture/further-your-research-lh-architecture-/">Further your research</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/big-ben/">Big Ben</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl02_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctlMainImageThumb_hypImageLink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/big-ben/"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20111221103744im_/http://assets3.parliament.uk/iv/main-thumb-square/id_1513.jpg" id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl02_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctlMainImageThumb_imgThumbWithLink" alt=""/></a> <p>The name Big Ben is often used to describe the tower, the clock and the bell but the name was first given to the Great Bell which was first struck on the 7 September 1859</p> <ul class="square-bullets"> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl02_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl01_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl02_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl01_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/big-ben/building-clock-tower/">Building the Clock Tower</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl02_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl02_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl02_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl02_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/big-ben/inside-clock-tower/">Inside the Clock Tower</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl02_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl03_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl02_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl03_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/big-ben/facts-figures/">Facts and figures</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl02_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl04_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl02_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl04_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/big-ben/key-dates-/">Key dates</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl02_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl05_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl02_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl05_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/big-ben/anniversary-year/">Big Ben downloads</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl02_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl06_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl02_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl06_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/big-ben/enquiries/">Frequently asked questions</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl02_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl07_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl02_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl07_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/big-ben/collections/">From the Parliamentary collections</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/westminsterhall/">Westminster Hall</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl03_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctlMainImageThumb_hypImageLink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/westminsterhall/"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20111221103744im_/http://assets3.parliament.uk/iv/main-thumb-square/id_871.jpg" id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl03_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctlMainImageThumb_imgThumbWithLink" alt=""/></a> <p>Westminster Hall is the oldest building on the Parliamentary estate. It has played a central role in 900 years of British history, with the major institutions of the British state having grown up directly around it </p> <ul class="square-bullets"> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl03_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl01_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl03_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl01_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/westminsterhall/architecture/">Architecture</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl03_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl02_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl03_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl02_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/westminsterhall/government-and-administration/">Government and administration</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl03_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl03_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl03_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl03_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/westminsterhall/other-uses/">Events and other uses</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl03_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl04_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl03_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl04_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/westminsterhall/key-dates-wesminster-hall/">Key dates</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl03_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl05_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl03_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl05_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/westminsterhall/contemporary-context/">Contemporary context</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl03_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl06_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl03_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl06_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/westminsterhall/further-your-research-wesminster-hall/">Further your research</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl03_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl07_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlChildPageListing_repChildPages_ctl03_ctrlSectionPromotion_ctrlSimplePageListing_repLinks_ctl07_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/westminsterhall/collections/">From the Parliamentary Collections</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="panel"> <div class="local-module">  <h2>Related Information</h2>  <div class="local-module-content"> <div class="itemImageWithTitle"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_hypLink"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20111221103744im_/http://assets3.parliament.uk/iv/main-thumb-wide-right-panel/id_1364.jpg" id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlMainImageThumb_imgImageNoLink" alt=""/></a> </div> <div class="itemText">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p> </p><div> <p>Explore the Parliamentary Art Collection that is displayed throughout the buildings of the Parliamentary Estate.</p> </div> </div>  <ul class="square-bullets"> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl00_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl00_hypRelatedLink" rel="external" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111221103744/http://art.parliament.uk/about/art-in-parliament/">Art in Parliament</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="footer"> <p class="marker">Footer links</p> <ul> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl01_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/azindex/">A-Z index</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl02_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/">Glossary</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl03_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/contact-us/">Contact us</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl04_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/">Freedom of Information</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl05_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/job-opportunities/">Jobs</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl06_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/using-this-website/">Using this website</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl07_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/">Copyright</a></li> <li class="last"><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl08_hypLink" href="/web/20111221103744/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/privacy/">Cookies</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ Sys.Application.initialize(); //]]> </script> </form> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://web.archive.org/web/20111221103744/https://ssl." : "https://web.archive.org/web/20111221103744/http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); /*]]>*/ </script> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ if(tracking.enabled){ try { var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker(tracking.accountID); pageTracker._setDomainName('.parliament.uk'); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err){} } /*]]>*/ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20111221103744js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/lbi_ga.js"></script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

The Palace of Westminster - UK Parliament