Registration now open for Major Project Conference

The Demolition of St Stephen's Chapel, by George Stokes. Watercolour on paper, 360×250mm. © The Museum of London, 46.41/2.

We are delighted to announce that registration is now open for our major Project Conference: St Stephen’s Chapel, Westminster: Visual and Political Culture, 1292-1941. This will take place over two days (Monday 19th - Tuesday 20th September 2016) at the Palace of Westminster. Proceedings include a reception at the Society of Antiquaries of London, Burlington House, accompanied by a display of art and artefacts from their collections relating to St Stephen’s Chapel.

This major Conference represents the culmination of our three-year Project to explore the history of a seminally important building, which stood at the heart of political life for over seven centuries. The research findings of our Project Team will explore the medieval origins and architectural evolution of St Stephen’s Chapel; its subsequent transformation to the first permanent meeting place for the House of Commons; its later alterations and adaptations to accommodate MPs; through to the building’s destruction by fire in 1834 and its legacy within the Victorian Palace of Westminster.

Keynote addresses will be given by Professor David Carpenter, Professor of Medieval History at King's College, London and Dr Paul Seaward, Director of the History of Parliament. Our Project Team will also be joined by Associate Researchers, presenting papers on related areas of interest.

Our Conference will also mark the public launch of our virtual reconstruction of St Stephen’s Chapel. This has been the result of extensive collaboration between the Project Team and leading experts, and allows the lost building to be experienced and interpreted for the first time in 182 years.

There is no registration fee to join us in September, but all those wishing to attend need to register via the Conference’s Eventbrite page. As spaces are strictly limited we warmly encourage you to book early. Any additional questions relating to the Conference should be directed to our Administrative Assistant, Jonathan Hanley, directly at: jonathan.hanley [at] york.ac.uk.

The Project notes its gratitude to our colleagues at the Palace of Westminster for generously agreeing to host this Conference, and to the Society of Antiquaries of London for making items from their collections available at our reception.

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