A Brief History of Parliament
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The Houses of Parliament has a long and varied history spanning nearly 1000 years. From the Gunpowder Plot to the first televised House of Commons, many pivotal historical moments have taken place in or around this iconic building. Here is a timeline of Parliament, from the very beginning to the present day:
1045- Edward the Confessor builds a palace on the site of Westminster.
1215- The Magna Carta- the first document detailing democracy- is written.
1377- First known recorded speaker of Parliament, Sir Thomas de Hungerford of Farleigh Castle in Wiltshire.
1605- Guy Fawkes attempts to blow up Parliament.
1653-68- Oliver Cromwell becomes Lord Protector- British head of state.
1780- First known black voter. Ignatius Sancho was a British composer, actor and writer. His letters that were published posthumously were one of the earliest accounts of the African slave trade written in English.
1834- Palace of Westminster is mostly destroyed by fire caused by sticks that were left in a furnace. The sticks caught fire which spread through the entire building. The Burning of Parliament was the biggest fire in London between the Great Fire of London and the Blitz of WWII.
1870- Palace of Westminster fully rebuilt.
1919- First female MP, Nancy Astor, takes a seat in Parliament. She was an American citizen who moved to England at age 26 and later became the MP for Plymouth Sutton.
1969- Voting age lowered to 18
1998- Scottish Parliament, Northern Ireland Assembly and Welsh Assembly established.
Parliament today:
