Claim: The Victoria Tower was purpose-built as a "fireproof repository for books and documents" and Augustus Pugin produced most of the architectural designs and elevations for the project and also the interior design.
Evidence: The Victoria Tower was purpose-built as a "fireproof repository for books and documents", as required by the competition to rebuild the Palace of Westminster after the fire of 16 October 1834, which had destroyed the building and almost all of the records of the House of Commons. Augustus Pugin produced most of the architectural designs and elevations for the project and also the interior design.