Reporting on events at Whitehall palace on 6 April 1659, weekly newspaper The Publick Intelligencer depicted a harmonious outcome to a potentially dangerous

In the third of our videos on parliamentary leadership Dr Emma Peplow discusses the career of Denis Healey, the Labour party leader that never was. The excerpts of Healey's voice are from the…

This election could serve as the earliest known record of a Black person voting in a British parliamentary election - John London

Robert Spankie, who was returned for Finsbury in 1832, had an unusual pre-parliamentary career. Dr Martin Spychal, Senior Research Fellow on our House of

Last week, the History of Parliament supported a workshop on the history of Westminster Hall.

Although first constructed in the 11th century, Westminster Hall still stands tall as an important building within the modern-day Houses of Parliament. As Dr

Philip Salmon examines who could vote following the changes made by the ‘Great’ Reform Act of 1832. This article covers the system which was in operation until the next major Reform Act in 1867.

Dr Simon Payling of our House of Commons 1461-1504 section explored how poetic memorializations help paint a more rounded, if overly positive, picture of two MPs: Sir John Berkeley (Leicestershire,…

In an era of religious extremists and violent conviction-politicians such as Oliver Cromwell, Edward Lord Herbert of Cherbury seemingly stands out as an

In 1736, however, Walpole suffered a rare miscalculation and was unprepared for the almost unanimous opposition that the bishops presented against his

It is one of Westminster's many traditions that, when an MP is elected to the role of Speaker of the House of Commons, they must show reluctance to accept the

On 23 September 1459 the battle of Blore Heath took place. In today's blog, marking the anniversary of the battle, Dr Simon Payling from our Commons 1461-1504

Dr Simon Payling explores the choice of Sir Richard Vernon as Speaker in 1426.

This blog, which explores the parliamentary context of the abolition of slavery, is based on Michael’s full-length seminar paper, ‘The West India Interest and Colonial Slavery in Parliament,…

This blog, which explores the parliamentary context of the abolition of slavery, is based on Michael’s full-length seminar paper, ‘The West India Interest and Colonial Slavery in Parliament,…

This weekend I went to see John Constable’s The Hay Wain, which is back in Suffolk for the first time since it was painted.

Dr Andrew Thrush, editor of our Lords 1558-1603 section, discusses the thorny issue that faced Elizabeth I in the wake of the discovery of Mary Queen of

Dr Martin Spychal, Senior Research Fellow on our House of Commons 1832-1868 project, provides an overview of the electoral system and political affiliation in

Who created the modern game of lawn tennis? As Dr Naomi Lloyd-Jones discusses, one possibly surprising 19th-century pioneer could have been Sir William Hart

A quick list from Hansard

Inspired by the political upheaval in many of our political parties after the Brexit vote, we’ve been looking this summer at some historic party splits. In

One of the highlights of the 1997 general election was the contest in Tatton. The Conservative Neil Hamilton, then under a cloud of corruption allegations,

Following on from our post about James Abercromby's highly-charged partisan election as Speaker in 1835, Philip Salmon explores the 1839 and 1841 elections of

Shortly before seven in the morning on Monday, 2 June 1572, Thomas Howard, 4th duke of Norfolk, was led the short distance from the Tower of London to a

2026 sees the 50th anniversary of the reissuing (in colour) of the children’s classic, Ivor the Engine, created by Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin. What is

2026 sees the 50th anniversary of the reissuing (in colour) of the children’s classic, Ivor the Engine, created by Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin. What is

The latest series of Bridgerton - Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story - has captured viewers with a reimagining of the monarch's life. But who was the real

For the first time in almost 1,000 years the Bayeux Tapestry has returned to Britain and is on display at the British Museum.

The recent release of Christopher Nolan’s latest epic, The Odyssey, has sparked debate in many quarters for its depiction of Odysseus’ efforts to get back

Despite being understood as a more private and exclusive residence, the duke and duchess included their suburban villa, Chiswick House, as part of their