When did the Houses of Parliament burn down?

16 October 1834
Caroline Shenton, of the Parliamentary Archives at Westminster and author of ‘The Day Parliament Burned Down’ describes the dramatic events in Westminster on 16 October 1834. By the late Georgian period, the buildings of the Palace of Westminster had become an accident waiting to happen.

What happened to the original Houses of Parliament?

On 16 October 1834, a fire broke out in the Palace after an overheated stove used to destroy the Exchequer’s stockpile of tally sticks set fire to the House of Lords Chamber. In the resulting conflagration both Houses of Parliament were destroyed, along with most of the other buildings in the palace complex.

Did the Houses of Parliament get blown up?

The Houses of Parliament were hit with several incendiary bombs throughout the night, and fire took hold. As a fire in the Common’s Chamber blazed, the roof the medieval Westminster Hall caught alight. The decision was taken to save the ancient Hall, and the Common’s Chamber was destroyed.

Who painted the burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons?

J. M. W. Turner
William Turner
The Burning of the Houses of Parliament/Artists

Why was Parliament burned down?

The Palace of Westminster, the medieval royal palace used as the home of the British parliament, was largely destroyed by fire on 16 October 1834. The blaze was caused by the burning of small wooden tally sticks which had been used as part of the accounting procedures of the Exchequer until 1826.

When did Parliament burn down Canada?

Burning of the Parliament Buildings in Montreal
Location St. Anne’s Market, Old Montreal
Coordinates 45°30′03″N 73°33′20″W
Date April 25, 1849 (EST)
Target Parliament of the Province of Canada

Who witnessed the Houses of Parliament burning down?

Turner himself
Along with thousands of other spectators, Turner himself witnessed the Burning of Parliament from the south bank of the River Thames, opposite Westminster.

Where is the burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons?

Flames consume Saint Stephen’s Hall, the House of Commons, and eerily illuminate the towers of Westminster Abbey, which would be spared….The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons, October 16, 1834.

Title: The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons, October 16, 1834
Credit Line: The John Howard McFadden Collection, 1928
Accession Number: M1928-1-41

Who destroyed the Houses of Parliament?

Guy Fawkes remains as infamous as ever in Britain, four centuries on, even though his attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament failed. But strange to say, almost nobody now remembers the Irishman Patrick Furlong who, 180 years ago today, succeeded in destroying the Houses of Parliament, albeit by accident.

What destroyed the Parliament Buildings in 1916?

Fire
Fire Destroys the Canadian Parliament Buildings While World War I was raging in Europe, the Canadian Parliament Buildings in Ottawa caught fire on a freezing February night in 1916. With the exception of the Library of Parliament, the Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings was destroyed and seven people died.

How did the Parliament buildings burn down?

The Houses of Parliament burn down Westminster, London The 16th of October 1834 AD The medieval Palace of Westminster, incorporating buildings erected by William Rufus in 1097, suffered a disastrous fire in 1834, leaving little of the old complex standing.

Why was the Palace of Westminster burned down?

Burning of Parliament. The Palace of Westminster, the medieval royal palace used as the home of the British parliament, was largely destroyed by fire on 16 October 1834. The blaze was caused by the burning of small wooden tally sticks which had been used as part of the accounting procedures of the Exchequer until 1826.

What did the fire of 1834 do to Parliament?

The fire of 1834, which destroyed much but not all of the old palace of Westminster, provided an opportunity to put into place some of the long existing hopes and plans for a purpose-built Parliament. After a controversial competition, and amid seemingly interminable wrangling, the project was

Who was the Clerk of works during the burning of Parliament?

In October 1834 Richard Weobley, the Clerk of Works, received instructions from Treasury officials to clear the old tally sticks while parliament was adjourned.