Palace of Westminster

This evening we attended a reception of alumni of my old university (Birmingham) held at the House of Lords. 

Before the reception itself, we were given a tour of the Palace of Westminster (something I had done before many years ago, but still interesting to do again - and it was the first time my wife had been there). The tour covers Westmnster Hall (the oldest part of the palace), St Stephen's Hall (where the Commons used to meet), the Central Lobby which is often the backdrop of television reports from Westminster, the House of Commons and the House of Lords.  Strangely, photography was allowed in all the parts of the building that you don't normally see, and forbidden in those parts which appear every day on television.  I don't know why.  You can, in any case, take a virtual tour of the building on the parliament.uk website with detailed photography of all parts of the building.

Our tour guide, a retired architect who had worked on restoration of parts of the palace, was extremely enthusiastic and very knowledgeable.

After the tour we went to the "Cholmondely Room" where we were offered drinks and canapés and were able to walk out on to the terrace overlooking the Thames.  As it was a pleasantly dry and mild evening, that is where most people headed - so it was quite crowded there!

It was interesting to meet alumni who graduated from the mid 1950s all the way through to last summer.   All in all, a very enjoyable evening.


My photograph is of the entrance to St Stephen's Hall from Westminster Hall. The installation above the entrance is called "New Dawn".  According to the parliament.uk web site, "New Dawn is a contemporary sculpture by Mary Branson commemorating the long campaign that led to some women gaining the vote in 1918, and all women in 1928.  It was unveiled on 7 June 2016, the 150th anniversary of the first mass petition submitted to Parliament calling for women’s suffrage.  Made from metal and illuminated glass, New Dawn’s design draws on concepts and imagery connected with Parliament and the votes for women movement."