The House of Commons, 1707-1834

Wren’s House of Commons was the setting for momentous changes in English political life, including the crystallization of political parties, Catholic Emancipation and parliamentary reform.

But the Chamber was cramped and increasingly unfit for purpose.

After the sensational rediscovery of medieval paintings, the fabric of the ancient chapel became an object of growing public interest from the 1790s. The east façade of the building was re-Gothicized in 1805.

Explore more about the social, political and historical aspects of the House of Commons during this period below.

‘Portrait of Sir Robert Walpole, First Earl of Orford’, by James Watson, after Jean Baptiste van Loo, 1788. Mezzotint, 50.5 × 35 cm. Parliamentary Art Collection, Palace of Westminster, WOA 170. © Parliamentary Art Collection.
The Office of Prime Minister
‘The House of Commons in Session’, by Peter Tillemans, c.1709-14. Oil on canvas, 137.2 × 123.2 cm. Parliamentary Art Collection, Palace of Westminster, WOA 2737. © Parliamentary Art Collection.
Political Parties
‘The Long-Winded Speech’, by William Dent, 1788. Coloured engraving, 14.8 × 10 cm. British Museum, London, BM 1948, 0214.512. © Trustees of the British Museum.
Parliamentary Reporting
‘The Ventilator and Ladies Gallery in the Attic of St Stephen’s’, by Frances Rickman, 1834. Pencil on paper. Parliamentary Art Collection, Palace of Westminster, WOA 26. © Parliamentary Art Collection.
Women in the House of Commons
An Act for the Union of Great Britain and Ireland. © Parliamentary Archives, HL/PO/PU/1/1800/39
Acts of Union with Ireland, 1800-1801
‘North East corner of St Stephen’s Chapel’ and ‘South East corner of the same Chapel’, from J. T. Smith, <em>The Antiquities of Westminster</em>, London, 1807, plate opposite p. 153.
Wyatt's Alterations
‘Specimens of Painting from St Stephen’s Chapel’, from J. T. Smith, <em>The Antiquities of Westminster</em>, London, 1807, plate opposite p. 249.
Rediscovery of the Medieval Chapel
‘St Stephen’s Fair’, by Charles Williams, after George Woodward, 1808. Coloured etching, 24.5 × 34.8 cm. British Museum, London, BM 1981, U.211. © Trustees of the British Museum.
Old Corruption
Catholic Emancipation
Preliminary sketch for ‘The First Reformed House of Commons, 1833’, by Sir George Hayter, 1833. Oil on paper. Parliamentary Art Collection, Palace of Westminster, WOA 363. © Parliamentary Art Collection.
Parliamentary Reform

Listen: The Soundscape of the Historic House of Commons

Listen to the speech on the slave trade made by Henry Beaufoy on 25th April 1792 (54 secs)

Being heard in the House of Commons could be a challenge, even for a practised speaker.

Listen to this speech on the slave trade made by Henry Beaufoy, MP for Great Yarmouth, on 25 April 1792. It was recorded in an anechoic chamber designed to absorb the reflections of sound waves. The result was then processed using software to simulate the acoustics of the pre-1834 Commons chamber. How easy is it to hear Mr Beaufoy?

>> Listen: The Soundscape of the Historic House of Commons

The House of Commons Surroundings, 1707-1834

The House of Commons' Surroundings

Explore the House of Commons' surroundings in the period spanning 1707-1834 with our annotated 3D model.

>> Explore the House of Commons' surroundings

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