Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1885-09-09
SHATTERED BUILDINGS.
Description of the Houses of Parliament
and the Tower of London, Recently
Damaged by the Dynamiters.

and was the principal palace of Henry
VI. The palace suffered severely from
fire in 1868 and 1899, and again in 1913,
afterwhich it was no longer used as roy
al residence. Afterward it was fitted up
for the meetings of Parliament, when,
in 1885, it became again prey to the
flames. This was the most serious fire
which befell it. In rebuilding, the plans
were very greatly enlarged and per-
fectcd. Ninety-seven British architects
were drawn into competition and SUBJ
mitted plans for worthy building in
which to hold the councils of the ma
ton. The plan of Sir Charles Barry
was selected, which was practically
what is to be seen to-day. The build
ING has in it eleven courts 100 stairways
and 100 apartments, and has cost up
ward of $15 100000. In spite of all
the competition in its erection and of
the great price paid for the buildings,
many faults have been found with it.
The stone of which it is made is said to
be crumbling, and some of the rooms
are below the level OF the river Thames,
which renders them damp and unfit for
occupancy. The beautiful clock tower
where is situated the chime of bells of
which the famous Big Ben forms the
bass note that strikes the hours, is the
chief of the three towers and stands
somewhat alone, like the Campanile at
Florence, and measures 31S feet in
height. The clock in this tower has
four dialS, each twenty-three feet in
diameter, and takes five hours to wind
up. This tower is one of the most in
tereSting features in the pile of build
ings forming the architectural mass
here gathered together. In general,
the structure is light and fanciful, rich
with Gothic tracery and decoration. AT
the son; hCrn extremity is another tower
which rises even higher than the clock
tower. and in the middle Il smaller one
over the dome of the central hall. The
sight Of the whole. rs seen from the
river front. wher" the walls of the build
ines ri>.' prrrcndicularlv. is very i'm
prv>~;V.'.
SO Intricate is the interior of the
houses that an adequate description
would be almost impossible. The
House of Commons, adjoining the Star
Chamber Court, the Commons Court
and the Speakers Court are to the
north of the Central Hall. The House
of Peers. the Peers Court. Royal Court,
Royal Gallery and innumerable other
divisions are to the south, or farthest
from Westminster bridge.
The interiors are not less imposing
than the outside. The room where the
Commons sit is substantially fitted up
in oak. AS the sessions are at night
the place is lit up from the ceiling,
which is covered with panes of glass.
The Speaker sits at the north end, while
the strangers gallery is at the southern
end.
Historically, the most interesting part
of the building is Westminster Hall,
where visitors alw avs 90 to see its re-
markable wooden ceiling, which, I'M
supported by columns, spans square
300 feet long by siNty-eight feet broad
at height of ninety-tWo feet from the
ground This hall was formerly YES
thule, and is the place where the Par
liaments of olden days were held;
where Edward II. was declared to have
forfeited the crown; where coronations
were held; where Charles |. was con-
demned to death and Cromwell was
saluted as Lord Protector. and where
many other famous acts were perform
ed. The last public festival in it was
the coronation of George ".
Westminster Hall, which was the
scene of one of the explosions, is on
the side of the buildings farthest from
the Thames. The Hall, as has been
said above, was formerly occupied as
the House of Parliament. 1t was be
gun by William Rufus, son of the Con-
queror, in 1897, and is one of the larg-
est halls in the world. The crypt which
is spoken of in the message stands at
the southern end of the Hall and is a
low vaulted structure supported by col
ums. 1t measures ninety feet in length,
twentv-eight feet in width and twenty
feet IN height. 1t was built by King
Stephen and rebuilt by Edwards II. and
III. Afterwards it fell again into de-
cay, and has since been rebuilt and
handsomely decorated, serving at pres
ent as chapel for the inhabitants OF
Westminster Palace.
The House of Lords forms the third
important division. This is a sump-
tuous chamber in Gothic style, in which
the Peers of England sit in council.
Around the walls in inches are eighteen
statues of the Barons who extorted the
Magma Charter from King ohm. The
walls and ceilings are decorated with
frescoes. At the south end is the can
opy and throne of the Queen, and to
the right and lower down is the throne
of the Prince of Wales, while to the
left is the throne of the Queens con-
sort. In front of the throne is the
woolsack of the Lord Chancellor.
The second explosion, at the Tower,
is at another extremity of London, but
similarly situated in respect to the river,
that is overlooking it and possibly af-
fording a means of escape to the con-
spirators. From Westminster Bridge
and the Houses of Parliament, the
Thames runs northward for half mile
or more, and then bends in a right an
gle to the eastward, where, two miles
below Westminster, and on the same
side of it, rises the historic Tower of
London, a mass of old Fashioned and
turreted fortifcation whose origin is
lost in antiquity. Around a nucleus in
1918 William the Conqueror erected what
is now known as the White Tower, the
portion of the Tower which was dam
aged, according to cable advices, by the
explosion. This tower is in the very
center of all the buildings, Notifications
and meats, where people are in con-
slant attendance, and to which access
by any conspirator would seem to be
most difficult.
What is known as the Flower" COM
prises all the buildings covering an area
of some thirteen acres of ground which
are included within the Notifications,
and is historically one of the most in
tercsting spots in England. 1t is daily
thronged with visitors of all national
tiles who are invariably conducted
through it in squads varying in number
by one of the authorized guards in
charge of the place. This parsonage
locks and unlocks the doors as one
passes from one room to another, keep
ing his eye upon loiterers, and explain.
ing in jargon the various matters of
interest. At first royal palace, the
Tower became prison and is now used
as a Government arsenal and repository