#Archive30 Today& #39;s theme is #Environment & we& #39;re looking at the different environments MPs operated in during our period, with three different House of Commons chambers in use between 1832 and 1868. Until 1834 MPs used the chamber depicted here by George Hayter in 1833. (C) NPG

Although it looks rather splendid in Hayter& #39;s painting, this chamber was not a pleasant working environment for MPs, as this description from the parliamentary reporter James Grant makes clear.

The destruction of much of the old Palace of Westminster by fire in 1834 - which you can read more about here: https://victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2012/10/16/parliament-destroyed-by-fire/">https://victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2012/10/1... or in @dustshoveller & #39;s The Day Parliament burned down - meant that MPs were forced to occupy a temporary chamber.

They used the chamber previously occupied by the House of Lords (the Court of Requests), which was fitted up for temporary use [pictured]. There& #39;s more about this temporary accommodation in this @HistParl blog: https://thehistoryofparliament.wordpress.com/2015/03/24/parliaments-politics-and-people-seminar-rebekah-moore-contested-spaces-temporary-houses-of-parliament-and-government-1834-52/">https://thehistoryofparliament.wordpress.com/2015/03/2...

Alongside this temporary chamber, the new Palace of Westminster designed by Charles Barry was being constructed. MPs had a trial run of the new chamber in May 1850, prompting some modifications to the space, & moved into it permanently in 1852. [pictured in 1851] [end of thread]