The burning of the Houses of Parliament on October 16, 1834, was one of the most notable events that occurred in 19th-century England. The fire destroyed centuries of architectural history and represented the fall of their old political structure, as well as the rise of a new, more modern one.

The fire began due to a seemingly mundane act: the Exchequer (treasury) was attempting to get rid of wooden tally sticks—old accounting tools used to record debts and other monetary data. In an attempt to dispose of old bookkeeping materials, two loads of the sticks were burned in the furnaces that lay underneath the House of Lords. Unfortunately, the furnaces were poorly taken care of, and the resulting blaze sparked the massive fire, quickly spreading to both the Lords’ and Commons’ chambers (Wilson, 2004).

Crowds gathered along the River Thames as the flames grew and spread, reflecting off the river and illuminating all of central London. Artist J.M.W. Turner, who watched the fire from a boat on the river, painted several dramatic pieces portraying the event that still survive today as powerful visual depictions (Tate Britain, n.d.). Despite the intensity of the fire, there were no lives lost, thanks in part to the time of day (night) and the rapid efforts of firefighters. However, the damage to the buildings was detrimental. The Palace of Westminster, which had held Parliament for centuries, was destroyed. Only Westminster Hall, the Jewel Tower, and a few other parts of the area were able to survive.

The destruction of the Parliament buildings presented a unique opportunity. England was undergoing severe social and political transformations, especially due to the Reform Act of 1832, which grew the electoral franchise and reduced the power of the aristocracy. The fire was seen by some as divine intervention on a corrupt political system in need of reform (Gilmour, 1992).

Post-fire, a competition was held to lay out a new complex for parliament. The winning design by Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin resulted in the Gothic style architecture we now refer to as the Palace of Westminster. Completed over the following decades, it mixed medieval and modern aspects, serving as a nod to Britain’s past while also suggesting its brighter future.

This improved building also served as a physical expression of the Victorian era’s values, including order and progress. Ironically, it was during the rebuilding that the British Parliament would establish itself as more of a democracy, expanding suffrage and becoming more representative of its population.

To conclude, the burning of the Houses of Parliament was more than just a tragedy; it was the beginning of an important transformation. It marked the literal and figurative end of an old government, and the improved beginning of the British parliament as we recognize it today.

Sources:

Gilmour, Robin. The Victorian Period: The Intellectual and Cultural Context of English Literature, 1830-1890. Longman, 1992.

Tate Britain. “The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons.” Tate Gallery, www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/turner-the-burning-of-the-houses-of-lords-and-commons-october-16-1834-n02068.

Wilson, David. The Building of the Victorian Parliament. Routledge, 2004.

Parliament.uk. “The 1834 Fire.” UK Parliament, www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/fire-1834/