The Indianapolis journal., 1885-01-25
THE DAMAGED BUILDINGS.
A Magnificent Structure, Covering Eight
Acres of Ground.

Magnificent Structure, Covering Eight
Acres of Ground.
The Houses of Parliament or the new Palace
of Westminster on the left bank of the Thames,
and between the river and Westminster Abbey,
occupy the right of the old palace which was de-
stroyed by fire Oct 16, 1894 They cover an
area of eight acres, aud contain 100 apart
ments, 100 stairways, and two miles of corridors
The foundation stone was laid April q, 1S4G
The House of Lords, 100 feet long, and forty five
feet in width and height, was opened in April,
1847 and is one of the most
gorgeous legislative halls in the world
1t contains the throne for the Queen, chair
for the Prince of Wales, and the wool sack Ia
char cushioned with wool) in the center of the
house for the Lord Chancellor. Facing the
throne is the reporters gallery, and over the
latter is the strangers gallery At either end
of the Chamber are three compartments covered
with fine frescoes.
The entrance for the Queen is at the Victoria
over; her robing room faces the river, and
from it she passes through Victoria gallery
richly decorated chamber 100 feet long, and the
Princes chamber another superb apartment, to
| her seat on the throne The gallery directly
the gunpowder plot of 1905 the cellars under
meath the house are always examined two hours
before the sovereign's arrival
The House of Commons, where the second ex-
plosion occurred of the same width and height
forty five feet) and sixty feet long is more
austere building 1t was opened in Feb, 1862
The strangers gallery the immediate spot where
the explosion occurred, is opposite the Speakers
chair, behind which is the reporters gallery.
The Royal or Victoria angle (the south vest
corner of the paace). seventy five feet square and
$40 feet high. finished i'll 1857, is magnif
cent work The central spire. 800 feet high and
60 feet in diameter. rises above the grand ce1r-
trail octagonal hall and the admirable groined
stone vault and is supported without single
pillar. The clock tower, or belfry. 40 feet
square and over 300 feet high abuts on West
minister bridge, the dals of the clock being 80
feet in diameter. The roof is finely decorated.
and the subordinate towers enhance the general
pictureSqueness Of effect. The upper floors ae-
commodate parliamentary committees
Westminster Hall (the scene of the first explo-
sionl. 200 feet long 110 feet high, and 68
wide, and despite its size unsupported by pillars,
occupies the site of the old hail of the royal pal
ace. where some of the earlier Parliaments were
held, and which abounded in historical associa-
Jions and trophies. The highest law courts of
England, established in 1924, under Henry III,
are still held in the renovated hall. A small
stairway leads from the east corner Of the hall
into the restored crypt of St Stephens, beneath
the modern St Stephens Hail. which is the only
relic saved from the fire of 1884, and is used as
a chapel The modern st. Stephens Hall, ninety
five feet long, fifty six feet high and thirty feet
wide, so called from occupying the site of St
Stephens chapel of the ancient palace contains
twelve statues of illustrous statesmen Up
wards of 200 elaborately carved bosses are in the
central or octagon hall, from which corridors
lined with fine paintings, extend right and left
to both houses of Parliament
The total cost of the structure up to this time
is upward of $40 000 000