Houses of Parliament
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THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT |
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The Houses of Parliament originally began life as the Palace of Westminster a royal residence in 1042 under Edward the Confessor. The major structure Westminster Hall, is one of the largest medieval halls in Europe and was built between 1087-1100 and with an unsupported hammerbeam roof. During the fourteenth-century the hall housed shops and stalls and the courts of law met there. Westminster Hall saw many tried for treason including Thomas More, Charles I, not to mention Guy Fawks and his cronies for trying to blow up parliament in 1605. The building however, was to suffer from a disastrous fire in 1834 and everything was lost except Westminster Hall and the Jewel Tower. Thus the whole site redeveloped to include the large Clock Tower that houses Big Ben. Members of the public may witness debates when parliament is in session. You don't need tickets in advance, but may have to queue. For the chance to watch Prime Minister's Question Time, you will need to obtain tickets in advance from a member of parliament (British citizen) or from your consulate or High Commission |