Editing Palace of Westminster (section)

== Interior ==
The Palace of Westminster contains over 1,100 rooms, 100 staircases and {{Convert|4.8|km|sigfig=1}} of passageways,<ref name="Factsheet G11" /> which are spread over four floors. The ground floor is occupied by offices, dining rooms and bars; the first, or principal, floor houses the main rooms of the palace, including the debating chambers, the lobbies and the libraries. The top two floors are used as committee rooms and offices.

Some of the interiors were designed and painted by [[J. G. Crace]], working in collaboration with Pugin and others. For example, Crace decorated and gilded the ceiling of the Chapel of St. Mary Undercroft.<ref>[http://www.parliament.uk/worksofart/artwork/edward-m-barry/houses-of-parliament-st-stephen%27s-crypt-restored--about-1863-/1601 Art in Parliament] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127160027/http://www.parliament.uk/worksofart/artwork/edward-m-barry/houses-of-parliament-st-stephen%27s-crypt-restored--about-1863-/1601 |date=27 November 2012 }}: ''Houses of Parliament, St Stephen's Crypt (Restored)''.</ref>

=== Layout ===
[[File:Palace of Westminster plan, F. Crace, high resolution.png|thumb|upright=1.3|Layout of the principal floor, with north to the right. The Central Lobby is the octagonal space in the centre; the Commons chamber is to the north, with the Elizabeth Tower beyond. The Lords chamber is to the south, with the monarch's rooms beyond. Westminster Hall is to the west, at an angle.]]

The palace is a roughly rectangular building with its long axis parallel to the River Thames. The building is planned around the Central Lobby, a large hall from which corridors lead north to the Commons Chamber, south to the Lords Chamber, and west to the public entrance and Westminster Hall; to the east are committee rooms and libraries. A suite of rooms known as the Royal Apartments are at the disposal of the reigning monarch; they lie beyond the Lords Chamber at the far south of the palace.

The palace has separate entrances for its different users: the monarch, members of the House of Lords, members of Parliament and the public. The Sovereign's Entrance is at the base of the Victoria Tower in the south-west corner of the palace, and leads directly to the Royal Apartments. Members of the House of Lords use the Peers' Entrance in the middle of the Old Palace Yard façade, which opens to an entrance hall. A staircase from there leads, through a corridor and the Prince's Chamber, to the Lords Chamber.<ref name="Guide, p. 28">[[#Guide|''Guide to the Palace of Westminster'']], p. 28.</ref> Members of Parliament enter their part of the building from the Members' Entrance in the south side of New Palace Yard. Their route passes through a cloakroom in the lower level of the Cloisters and eventually reaches the Members' Lobby directly south of the Commons Chamber. St Stephen's Entrance, in the approximate centre of the building's western front, is the public entrance. From it visitors walk through a flight of stairs to St Stephen's Hall, which houses a collection of marble statues of prominent parliamentarians, and then to the Central Lobby.<ref>{{Cite web |title=St Stephen's Hall |url=https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/architecture/palace-s-interiors/st-stephen-s-hall/ |access-date=5 November 2023 |website=UK Parliament}}</ref>

=== Royal Apartments ===

==== Norman Porch ====
The Sovereign's Entrance is beneath the Victoria Tower. It was designed for the use of the monarch, and is used by them during the [[State Opening of Parliament]].<ref name="Lords Route tour">{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/online-tours/virtualtours/lords-route/ |title=Lords Route virtual tour |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=5 August 2010 |archive-date=16 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100816131858/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/online-tours/virtualtours/lords-route/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Sovereign's Entrance is also the formal entrance used by visiting dignitaries,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/uk_parliament/3406081239/ |title=President of France arrives at Parliament |author=UK Parliament |date=2 April 2009 |work=[[Flickr]] |access-date=29 January 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/uk_parliament/3406096131/ |title=President of Mexico and the Mexican First Lady arrive at Parliament |author=UK Parliament |date=2 April 2009 |work=[[Flickr]] |access-date=29 January 2010}}</ref> as well as the starting point of public tours of the palace.<ref>[[#Wilson|Wilson (2005)]], inside of front cover.</ref>

From the entrance, a staircase leads up to the principal floor in a broad, unbroken flight of 26 steps made of grey granite.<ref>[[#Fell|Fell and Mackenzie (1994)]], p. 30; [[#Wilson|Wilson (2005)]], p. 8.</ref> At the top is the Norman Porch, a square landing with a central [[clustered column]] and a ceiling of four [[groin vault]]s with [[Lierne (vault)|lierne ribs]] and [[Boss (architecture)|carved bosses]]. The porch was named for its proposed decorative scheme, which was never completed but would have consisted of statues of the Norman kings and frescoes depicting [[Norman England|Norman history]].<ref>[[#Guide|''Guide to the Palace of Westminster'']], p. 25.</ref> As completed, the porch contains stained glass windows depicting [[Edward the Confessor]] and a young Queen Victoria,<ref>[[#Fell|Fell and Mackenzie (1994)]], p. 31.</ref> a copy of a 1900 painting of Victoria by [[Jean-Joseph Benjamin-Constant]],<ref>[[#Riding|Riding and Riding (2000)]], p. 190.</ref> and busts of prime ministers who have sat in the House of Lords on the plinths intended for the statues. A double door opposite the stairs leads to the Royal Gallery, and another to the right opens to the Robing Room.<ref name="Lords Route tour" />

==== Robing Room ====
[[File:Royal Robing Room, Palace of Westminster.jpg|thumb|alt=See adjacent text.|The Sovereign prepares for the State Opening of Parliament in the Robing Room. Behind is the Chair of State.]]
[[File:House of Lords (Robing Room) 1897.jpg|thumb|The robing room in 1897]]

The Robing Room lies at the southern end of the palace's north-south axis, and occupies the centre of the south front, overlooking [[Victoria Tower Gardens]].<ref name="Wilson, pp. 8-9">[[#Wilson|Wilson (2005)]], pp. 8–9.</ref> It is where the Sovereign prepares for the State Opening of Parliament by changing into their official robes and putting on the [[Imperial State Crown]].<ref name="Robing Room">{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/architecture/palace-s-interiors/robing-room/ |title=Architecture of the Palace: The Robing Room |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref> The focus of the room is the chair of state, which sits on a dais of three steps under a canopy adorned with the arms and floral emblems of England, Scotland and Ireland. A panel of purple velvet forms the backdrop to the chair, embroidered by the [[Royal School of Needlework]] with the royal arms, surrounded by stars and ''VR'' monograms.<ref name="Lords Route tour" /> Edward Barry designed both the chair—the cushion and back of which are also embroidered—and the ornate marble fireplace across the room, which features gilded statuettes of [[Saint George]] and [[Saint Michael]].<ref name="Wilson, pp. 8-9" />

The decorative theme of the room is the legend of [[King Arthur]], considered by many Victorians the source of their nationhood.<ref name="Field, p. 192">[[#Field|Field (2002)]], p. 192.</ref> Five frescoes painted by [[William Dyce]] between 1848 and 1864 cover the walls, depicting allegorical scenes from the legend. Each scene represents a chivalric virtue; the largest, between the two doors, is titled ''Admission of Sir Tristram to the Round Table'' and illustrates the virtue of Hospitality.<ref name="Lords Route tour" /> Seven were originally commissioned but the remaining two paintings were not carried out due to the artist's death, and on the wallpapered panels flanking the Chair of State hang oil portraits of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert by [[Franz Xaver Winterhalter]].<ref name="Wilson, pp. 8-9" />{{#tag:ref|Depicted (clockwise) are the virtues of Courtesy, Religion, Generosity, Hospitality and Mercy. The two missing frescoes were meant to depict Fidelity and Courage.<ref name="Guide, p. 26">[[#Guide|''Guide to the Palace of Westminster'']], p. 26.</ref> Queen Victoria's portrait can be seen in the Parliamentary website.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/worksofart/artwork/unknown/queen-victoria--1819-1901-/3154 |title=Queen Victoria (1819–1901) |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref>|group=note}} Other decorations in the room are also inspired by the Arthurian legend, namely a series of 18 bas-reliefs beneath the paintings, carved in oak by [[Henry Hugh Armstead]],<ref name="Lords Route tour" /> and the frieze running below the ceiling, which displays the attributed coats of arms of the [[Knights of the Round Table]].<ref name="Guide, p. 26" /> The ceiling itself is decorated with heraldic badges, as is the border of the wooden floor<ref name="Guide, p. 28" />—which, as can be seen in the adjacent image, is left exposed by the carpeting.

The Robing Room was briefly used as the House of Lords' meeting chamber while the House of Lords Chamber was occupied by the House of Commons, whose chamber had been destroyed by [[the Blitz]] in 1941.

==== Royal Gallery ====
[[File:Royal Gallery, Palace of Westminster.jpg|thumb|left|Following the rapid decay of Maclise's first two frescoes, the rest of the Royal Gallery's walls were left unpainted.]]
Immediately north of the Robing Room is the Royal Gallery. At {{Convert|33.5|by|13.7|m|ft}}, it is one of the largest rooms in the palace.<ref name="Factsheet G11" /> Its main purpose is to serve as the stage of the [[State Procession at the UK Opening of Parliament|royal procession]] at State Openings of Parliament, which the audience watch from temporary tiered seating on both sides of the route.<ref>[[#Quinault|Quinault (1992)]], pp. 84–85.</ref> It has also been used on occasion by visiting statesmen from abroad when [[List of people who have addressed both Houses of the United Kingdom Parliament|addressing both Houses of Parliament]], as well as for receptions in honour of foreign dignitaries,<ref name="Royal Gallery">{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/architecture/palace-s-interiors/royal-gallery/ |title=Architecture of the Palace: The Royal Gallery |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref> and more regularly for the Lord Chancellor's Breakfast;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/occasions/lcbreakfast/ |title=Lord Chancellor's breakfast |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref> in the past it was the theatre of several trials of peers by the House of Lords.<ref name="Royal Gallery" /><ref>[[#Guide|''Guide to the Palace of Westminster'']], p. 29.</ref> Documents from the Parliamentary Archives are on display in the Royal Gallery (including a facsimile of [[Charles I of England|Charles&nbsp;I]]'s death warrant), and the tables and seating offer a workspace for members of the Lords that is conveniently close to their debating chamber.<ref name="Lords Route tour" />
[[File:The Royal Gallery House of Lords, (interior, London, England) LCCN2002699877.tif|thumb|Historical image of the Royal Gallery]]
The decorative scheme of the Royal Gallery was meant to display important moments in British military history, and the walls are decorated by two large paintings by [[Daniel Maclise]], each measuring {{Convert|13.7|by|3.7|m|ft}}: ''[[The Death of Nelson (Maclise painting)|The Death of Nelson]]'' (depicting [[Lord Nelson]]'s demise at the [[Battle of Trafalgar]] in 1805) and ''[[The Meeting of Wellington and Blücher after the Battle of Waterloo]]'' (showing the [[Duke of Wellington]] meeting [[Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher]] at the [[Battle of Waterloo]] in 1815).<ref name="Lords Route tour" /> The murals deteriorated rapidly after their completion due to a range of factors, most importantly atmospheric pollution, and today they are almost monochrome, although a finished study of ''The Death of Nelson'' in better condition hangs in the [[Walker Art Gallery]], [[Liverpool]].<ref name="Field, p. 192" /> The rest of the planned frescos were cancelled, and the walls are filled with portraits of kings and queens from [[George I of Great Britain|George&nbsp;I]] onwards.<ref>[[#Wilson|Wilson (2005)]], pp. 8, 10–11.</ref> Another decorative element with military undertones are the eight statues of gilded [[Caen stone]] that flank the three doorways and the bay window of the Gallery, sculpted by [[John Birnie Philip]]. Each depicts a monarch during whose reign a key battle or war took place.<ref name="Lords Route tour" /> They are: [[Alfred the Great]] and [[William the Conqueror]]; [[Richard I]] and [[Edward III]]; [[Henry V of England|Henry V]] and [[Elizabeth I]]; [[William III of England|William III]] and [[Anne, Queen of Great Britain|Anne]]. The panelled ceiling, {{Convert|13.7|m|ft}} above the floor,<ref name="Factsheet G11" /> features [[Tudor rose]]s and lions, and the stained-glass windows show the coats of arms of the Kings of England and Scotland.<ref name="Royal Gallery" />

==== Prince's Chamber ====
[[File:Sir Benjamin Stone's pictures; records of national life and history reproduced from the collection of photographs made by Sir Benjamin Stone, M.P (1906) (14755803986).jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|''Her Majesty Queen Victoria, Supported by Justice and Clemency'', by [[John Gibson (sculptor)|John Gibson]], Prince's Chamber]]
The Prince's Chamber is a small [[wikt:anteroom|anteroom]] between the Royal Gallery and the Lords Chamber, named after the room adjoining the Parliament Chamber in the Old Palace of Westminster. Thanks to its location, it is a place where members of the Lords meet to discuss business of the House. Several doors lead out of the room, to the [[Division of the assembly|division]] lobbies of the House of Lords and to a number of important offices.<ref name="Lords Route tour" />

The theme of the Prince's Chamber is Tudor history, and 28 oil portraits painted on panels around the room depict members of the [[Tudor dynasty]]. They are the work of [[Richard Burchett]] and his pupils, and their creation entailed extensive research, which contributed to the founding of the [[National Portrait Gallery, London|National Portrait Gallery]] in 1856. 12 bronze bas-reliefs are set into the wall below the portraits, executed by [[William Theed]] in 1855–1857.<ref name="Lords Route tour" /> Scenes included are ''The [[Field of the Cloth of Gold]]'', ''The Escape of [[Mary, Queen of Scots]]'' and ''[[Walter Raleigh|Raleigh]] Spreading His Cloak As a Carpet for the Queen''.<ref>[[#Guide|''Guide to the Palace of Westminster'']], pp. 32–33.</ref> Above the portraits, at window level, are copies of six of the ten [[Armada tapestries]], which hung in the chamber of the House of Lords until their destruction in the 1834 fire and depicted the defeat of the [[Spanish Armada]] in 1588. The project was put on hold in 1861 (by which time only one painting had been completed), and was not revived until 2007; {{As of|2010|8|lc=on}}, all six paintings are now in their intended places.

The room also contains a statue of Queen Victoria, seated on a throne (itself placed on a pedestal) and holding a sceptre and a laurel crown, which show that she both governs and rules.<ref name="Lords Route tour" /> This figure is flanked by allegorical statues of Justice and Clemency, the former with a bare sword and an inflexible expression and the latter showing sympathy and offering an olive branch.<ref>[[#Fell|Fell and Mackenzie (1994)]], p. 38; [[#Riding|Riding and Riding (2000)]], p. 262.</ref> The sculptural ensemble, made of white marble and carved by [[John Gibson (sculptor)|John Gibson]] in 1855, reaches {{Convert|2.44|m|ft|0}} in height; its size has long been considered out of proportion with the fittings of the Prince's Chamber, and the flanking statues ended up in storage between 1955 and 1976. However, the size and location of the group, in the archway opposite the doors to the Royal Gallery (which are removed before State Openings of Parliament to facilitate the royal procession), indicate that it was meant to be seen from a distance, and to symbolically remind the monarch of their royal duties as they would walk down the Royal Gallery on their way to deliver their speech.<ref name="Lords Route tour" /><ref>[[#Riding|Riding and Riding (2000)]], p. 253.</ref>

=== Precincts of the House of Lords ===
==== Lords Chamber ====
[[File:Minute's silence (51111527681).jpg|thumb|alt=Photograph|The Sovereign's Throne and its gilded Canopy dominate the ornate Lords Chamber.]]

The Chamber of the [[House of Lords]] is located in the southern part of the Palace of Westminster. The lavishly decorated room measures {{Convert|13.7|by|24.4|m|ft|0}}.<ref name="Factsheet G11" /> The benches in the Chamber, as well as other furnishings in the Lords' side of the palace, are coloured red. The upper part of the Chamber is decorated by stained glass windows and by six allegorical frescoes representing religion, chivalry and law.

At the south end of the Chamber are the ornate gold Canopy and Throne; although the Sovereign may theoretically occupy the Throne during any sitting, he or she attends only the State Opening of Parliament. Other members of the Royal Family who attend the State Opening use Chairs of State next to the Throne, and peers' sons are always entitled to sit on the steps of the Throne. In front of the Throne is the [[Woolsack]], an armless red cushion stuffed with [[wool]], representing the historical importance of the wool trade, and used by the officer presiding over the House (the [[Lord Speaker]] since 2006, but historically the [[Lord Chancellor]] or a deputy). The House's [[Ceremonial mace|mace]], which represents royal authority, is placed on the back of the Woolsack. In front of the Woolsack is the Judges' Woolsack, a larger red cushion that used to be occupied during the State Opening by the [[Law Lords]] (who were members of the House of Lords), and prospectively by the Supreme Court Justices and other Judges (whether or not members), to represent the Judicial Branch of Government. The [[Table of the House]], at which the clerks sit, is in front.

Members of the House occupy red benches on three sides of the Chamber. The benches on the Lord Speaker's right form the Spiritual Side and those to his left form the Temporal Side. The [[Lords Spiritual]] (archbishops and bishops of the established [[Church of England]]) all occupy the Spiritual Side. The [[Lords Temporal]] ([[Peerage|nobles]]) sit according to party affiliation: members of the Government party sit on the Spiritual Side, while those of the Opposition sit on the Temporal Side. Some peers, who have no party affiliation, sit on the benches in the middle of the House opposite the Woolsack; they are accordingly known as [[crossbencher]]s.

[[File:Passing of the Parliament Bill, 1911 - Project Gutenberg eText 19609.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Drawing|The passage of the [[Parliament Act 1911]]. Votes in both Houses of Parliament are conducted in the form of [[Division of the assembly|divisions]].]]

The Lords Chamber is the site of nationally televised ceremonies, the most important of which is the [[State Opening of Parliament]], which is held formally to open each annual parliamentary session, either after a General Election or in the autumn. At this occasion every constitutional element of the government is represented: the Crown (both literally, and figuratively in the person of the Sovereign), The Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and The Commons, (who together form the Legislature), the Judiciary (although no judges are members of either House of Parliament), and the Executive (both [[Minister of the Crown|Government Ministers]], and ceremonial military units in attendance on the Sovereign); and a large number of guests are invited to attend in the large Royal Gallery immediately outside the Chamber. The Sovereign, seated on the Throne, delivers the [[Speech from the Throne]], outlining the Government's programme for the year and legislative agenda for the forthcoming parliamentary session. The Commons may not enter the Lords' debating floor; instead, they watch the proceedings from beyond the Bar of the House, just inside the door. A small purely formal ceremony is held to end each parliamentary session, when the Sovereign is merely represented by a group of [[Lords Commissioners]].

Following the Blitz, which destroyed the chamber of the House of Commons, the Lords' chamber was occupied by the Commons. The Lords temporarily used the Robing Room during the reconstruction. The State Opening Of Parliament was carried out as normal, with the new rooms being used. Evidence can still be seen of this today, with damage clearly visible on one of the doors where they were struck by Black Rod.

==== Peers' Lobby ====
Directly north of the Lords Chamber lies the Peers' Lobby, an [[antechamber]] where Lords can informally discuss or negotiate matters during sittings of the House, as well as collect messages from the [[Doorkeeper (Houses of Parliament)|doorkeepers]], who control access to the Chamber. The Lobby is a square room measuring {{Convert|12|m|ft}} on each side and {{Convert|10|m|ft}} in height,<ref name="Factsheet G11" /> and one of its main features is the floor centrepiece, a radiant Tudor rose made of Derbyshire marbles and set within an octagon of engraved brass plates.<ref>[[#Wilson|Wilson (2005)]], p. 16.</ref> The rest of the floor is paved with encaustic tiles featuring heraldic designs and Latin mottoes. The walls are faced with white stone and each is pierced by a doorway; above the arches are displayed arms representing the six royal dynasties which ruled England until Queen Victoria's reign ([[House of Wessex|Saxon]], [[Norman dynasty|Norman]], [[Plantagenet]], [[Tudor dynasty|Tudor]], [[House of Stuart|Stuart]] and [[House of Hanover|Hanoverian]]), and between them there are windows stained with the arms of the early aristocratic families of England.<ref>[[#Guide|''Guide to the Palace of Westminster'']], pp. 47–49.</ref>

Of the doorways, the one to the south—which leads into the Lords Chamber—is the most magnificent, and sports much gilding and decoration, including the full royal arms. It is enclosed by the Brass Gates, a pair of elaborately pierced and studded doors together weighing 1.5 tonnes.<ref>[[#Guide|''Guide to the Palace of Westminster'']], pp. 50–51.</ref> The side doors, which feature clocks, open into corridors: to the east extends the Law Lords Corridor, which leads to the libraries, and nearby to the west lies the Moses Room, used for Grand Committees<!-- (''see [[#Other rooms|below]]'') -->.

To the north is the vaulted Peers' Corridor, which is decorated with eight murals by [[Charles West Cope]] depicting historical scenes from the period around the [[English Civil War]].<ref name="Central Lobby tour">{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/online-tours/virtualtours/central-lobby-tour/ |title=Central Lobby virtual tour |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=5 August 2010 |archive-date=16 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100716004602/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/online-tours/virtualtours/central-lobby-tour/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The frescoes were executed between 1856 and 1866,<ref>[[#Wilson|Wilson (2005)]], p. 21.</ref><ref>[[#Guide|''Guide to the Palace of Westminster'']], p. 53.</ref> and each scene was "specifically chosen to depict the struggles through which national liberties were won".<ref name="Central Lobby tour" /> Examples include ''Speaker [[William Lenthall|Lenthall]] Asserting the Privileges of the Commons Against Charles&nbsp;I when the Attempt was Made to Seize the Five Members'', representing resistance against absolute rule, and ''The Embarkation of the Pilgrim Fathers for New England'', which illustrates the principle of freedom of worship.

=== Central Lobby ===
[[File:London - The Parliament - 2779.jpg|thumb|alt=The Central Lobby|''Saint George for England'' by [[Edward Poynter|Sir Edward Poynter]] and ''Saint Patrick for Ireland'' by [[Robert Anning Bell]] are two of the four mosaics decorating the Central Lobby.]]

Originally named "Octagon Hall" because of its shape, the Central Lobby is the heart of the Palace of Westminster. It lies directly below the Central Tower and forms a busy crossroads between the House of Lords to the south, the House of Commons to the north, St Stephen's Hall and the public entrance to the west, and the Lower Waiting Hall and the libraries to the east. Its location halfway between the two debating chambers has led constitutional theorist [[Erskine May]] to describe the Lobby as "the political centre of the British Empire",<ref>[[#Quinault|Quinault (1992)]], p. 93.</ref> and allows a person standing under the great chandelier to see both the Royal Throne and the Speaker's Chair, provided that all the intervening doors are open. Constituents may meet their Members of Parliament here, even without an appointment,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/architecture/palace-s-interiors/central-lobby/ |title=Architecture of the Palace: Central Lobby |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref> and this practice is the origin of the term ''[[lobbying]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/82529.stm |title=Lobbying |date=1 October 2008 |work=BBC News |access-date=21 January 2010}}</ref> The hall is also the theatre of the Speaker's Procession, which passes from here on its way to the Commons Chamber before every sitting of the House.

The Central Lobby measures {{Convert|18|m|ft}} across and {{Convert|23|m|ft}} from the floor to the centre of the vaulted ceiling.<ref name="Factsheet G11" /> The panels between the vault's ribs are covered with Venetian glass [[mosaic]] displaying floral emblems and heraldic badges, and the bosses in the intersections of the ribs are also carved into heraldic symbols.<ref>[[#Guide|''Guide to the Palace of Westminster'']], pp. 53–54.</ref> Each wall of the Lobby is contained in an arch ornamented with statues of English and Scottish monarchs; on four sides there are doorways, and the [[Tympanum (architecture)|tympana]] above them are adorned with mosaics representing the patron saints of the United Kingdom's constituent nations: [[Saint George]] for England, [[Saint Andrew]] for Scotland, [[Saint David]] for Wales and [[Saint Patrick]] for Ireland.{{#tag:ref|The [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]] included all of Ireland until the [[Irish Free State]]'s creation in 1922. Decorative references to Ireland exist throughout the Palace of Westminster and include symbols like the [[Irish harp]] and the [[shamrock]]. The saints' mosaics were planned from 1847, but Robert Anning Bell's design for Ireland was completed in 1924 and reflects the [[Partition of Ireland|1920–22 partition]], with Saint Patrick flanked by [[Saint Columba]] over the [[arms of Ulster]] for [[Northern Ireland]], and [[Saint Brigid]] over the [[arms of Ireland]] for the Free State.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/about/art-in-parliament/online-exhibitions/the-palace-of-westminster-and-its-history/national-patron-saints/st-patrick-and-ireland/|title=St Patrick and Ireland|work=Official website|publisher=UK Parliament|access-date=2 January 2016}}</ref>|group=note}} The other four arches are occupied by high windows, under which there are stone screens—the hall's post office, one of two in the palace, is located behind one of these screens. In front of them stand four bigger-than-life statues of 19th-century statesmen, including one of four-time prime minister [[William Gladstone]].<ref name="Central Lobby tour" /> The floor on which they stand is tiled with Minton encaustic tiles in intricate patterns and includes a passage from [[s:Bible, King James, Psalms#Psalm 127|Psalm 127]] written in Latin, which translates as follows: "Except the Lord build the House their labour is but lost that build it".<ref>[[#Wilson|Wilson (2005)]], p. 19.</ref>

The East Corridor leads from the Central Lobby to the Lower Waiting Hall, and its six panels remained blank until 1910, when they were filled with scenes from Tudor history.<ref>[[#Wilson|Wilson (2005)]], p. 20.</ref> They were all paid for by [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] peers and each was the work of a different artist, but uniformity was achieved between the frescoes thanks to a common colour palette of red, black and gold and a uniform height for the depicted characters. One of the scenes is probably not historical: ''[[Plucking the Red and White Roses in the Old Temple Gardens]]'', depicting the origin of these flowers as emblems of the [[House of Lancaster|Houses of Lancaster]] and [[House of York|York]] respectively, was taken from Shakespeare's play ''[[Henry VI, Part 1]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/worksofart/artwork/henry-arthur-payne/plucking-the-red-and-white-roses-in-the-old-temple-gardens/2593 |title=Plucking the Red and White Roses in the Old Temple Gardens |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref>

=== Precincts of the House of Commons ===
==== Members' Lobby ====
{{Main|Members' Lobby}}

[[File:Barack Obama in the Members' Lobby of the Palace of Westminster, 2011.jpg|thumb|left|US President [[Barack Obama]] (right) in the Members' Lobby during a tour of the Palace in May 2011. With him are, from the left: the [[Lord Great Chamberlain]], the [[David Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley|Marquess of Cholmondeley]], holding his white staff of office; the [[Lord Speaker]], [[Baroness Hayman]]; and the [[Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)|Speaker of the House of Commons]], [[John Bercow]].]]

Continuing north from the Central Lobby is the Commons' Corridor. It is of almost identical design to its southern counterpart and is decorated with scenes of 17th-century political history between the Civil War and the [[Glorious Revolution|Revolution of 1688]]. They were painted by [[Edward Matthew Ward]] and include subjects like ''[[George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle|Monk]] Declaring for a Free Parliament'' and ''The Lords and Commons Presenting the Crown to [[William III of England|William III]] and [[Mary II]] in the Banqueting Hall''.<ref name="Central Lobby tour" /> Then, mirroring the arrangement at the Lords part of the palace, is another antechamber, the [[Members' Lobby]]. In this room, Members of Parliament hold discussions or negotiations, and are often interviewed by accredited journalists, collectively known as "[[The Lobby]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/architecture/palace-s-interiors/members-lobby-churchill-arch/ |title=Architecture of the Palace: The Members' Lobby and the Churchill Arch |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref>

The room is similar to the Peers' Lobby but plainer in design and slightly larger, forming a cube {{Convert|13.7|m|ft}} on all sides.<ref name="Factsheet G11" /> After the heavy damage it sustained in the 1941 bombing, it was rebuilt in a simplified style, something most evident in the floor, which is almost completely unadorned. The archway of the door leading into the Commons Chamber has been left unrepaired as a reminder of the evils of war, and is now known as the Rubble Arch or Churchill Arch. It is flanked by bronze statues of [[Winston Churchill]] and [[David Lloyd George]], the prime ministers who led Britain through the Second and First World War respectively; a foot of each is conspicuously shiny, a result of a long tradition of MPs rubbing them for good luck on their way in before their [[maiden speech]]. The Lobby contains the busts and statues of most 20th-century prime ministers, as well as two large boards where MPs can receive letters and telephone messages, designed for the use of the House and installed in the early 1960s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/online-tours/virtualtours/commons-tour/ |title=House of Commons Chamber virtual tour |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=5 August 2010 |archive-date=16 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100716005311/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/online-tours/virtualtours/commons-tour/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==== Commons Chamber ====
The [[debating chamber|Chamber]] of the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] is at the northern end of the Palace of Westminster; it was opened in 1950 after the Victorian chamber had been destroyed in 1941 and re-built under the architect [[Giles Gilbert Scott]]. The Chamber measures {{Convert|14|by|20.7|m|ft}}<ref name="Factsheet G11" /> and is plainer in style than the Lords Chamber;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/architecture/palace-s-interiors/commons-chamber/|title=The Commons Chamber}}</ref> the benches, as well as other furnishings in the Commons side of the palace, are coloured green. Members of the public are forbidden to sit on the benches. Other parliaments in [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] nations, including those of [[Parliament of India|India]], [[Parliament of Canada|Canada]], [[Parliament of Australia|Australia]] and [[Parliament of New Zealand|New Zealand]], have copied the colour scheme under which the Lower House is associated with green, and the Upper House with red.

[[File:Secretary Kerry in House of Commons Chamber.jpg|alt= Examining the Dispatch Boxes|thumb|Left to right: US Secretary of State [[John Kerry]], House of Commons Speaker [[John Bercow]] and Foreign Secretary [[William Hague]] examine the [[despatch box]]es on 25 February 2013]]
At the north end of the Chamber is the [[Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)|Speaker]]'s Chair, a present to Parliament from Australia. The current British Speaker's Chair is an exact copy of the Speaker's Chair given to Australia (itself a copy of the original chair) by the  United Kingdom Branch of the [[Empire Parliamentary Association]], to celebrate the opening of [[Old Parliament House, Canberra|Provisional Parliament House, Canberra]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Speaker's Chair |url=https://www.moadoph.gov.au/explore/collection/speakers-chair |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House}}</ref> In front of the Speaker's Chair is the Table of the House, at which the clerks sit, and on which is placed the Commons' [[ceremonial mace]]. The Table was a gift from Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://old.parliament.uk/business/news/2011/may/70th-anniversary-of-commons-chamber-bombing/commonwealth-gifts/|title=Commonwealth Gifts made to the House of Commons in 1950 – UK Parliament |publisher=Parliament.uk |date=26 October 1950 |access-date=29 May 2013}}</ref> The [[dispatch box]]es, which front-bench [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Members of Parliament]] (MPs) often lean on or rest notes on during Questions and speeches, are a gift from New Zealand. There are green benches on either side of the House; members of the Government party occupy benches on the Speaker's right, while those of the Opposition occupy benches on the Speaker's left. There are no cross-benches as in the House of Lords. The Chamber is relatively small, and can accommodate only 427 of the 650 Members of Parliament<ref name="Churchill and the Commons Chamber">{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/architecture/palacestructure/churchill/ |title=Architecture of the Palace: Churchill and the Commons Chamber |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=14 May 2010}}</ref>—during [[Prime Minister's Questions]] and in major debates MPs stand at either end of the House.

By tradition, the British Sovereign does not enter the Chamber of the House of Commons. The last monarch to do so was [[Charles I of England|King Charles&nbsp;I]], in 1642. The King sought to arrest five Members of Parliament on charges of [[high treason]], but when he asked the Speaker, [[William Lenthall]], if he had any knowledge of the whereabouts of these individuals, Lenthall famously replied: "May it please your Majesty, I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place but as the House is pleased to direct me, whose servant I am here."<ref>{{Cite news |title=Some predecessors kept their nerve, others lost their heads |last=Sparrow |first=Andrew |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=18 October 2000 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/4790900/Some-predecessors-kept-their-nerve-others-lost-their-heads.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/4790900/Some-predecessors-kept-their-nerve-others-lost-their-heads.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=3 December 2009}}{{cbignore}}</ref>  Since then, in the [[State Opening of Parliament]], when [[Black Rod]] representing the monarch approaches the doors to the chamber of the House of Commons to make the summons, the doors are pointedly slammed in his or her face. Black Rod has to strike the door three times with a staff, to be admitted and issue the summons from the monarch to the MPs to attend. When repairs after the Second World War bombing were completed, the rebuilt chamber was opened by [[King George VI]] on 26 October 1950 who was invited to an "unofficial" tour of the new structure by Commons leaders.<ref name="Liverpool">{{Cite news| title=On This Day| url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-137947037.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825082321/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-137947037.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=25 August 2011| work=Daily Post (Liverpool)| date=26 October 2005| access-date=24 May 2011}}</ref><ref name="time">{{Cite magazine| title=Foreign News: Renovated Bottle| date=6 November 1950| url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,813689,00.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131123752/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,813689,00.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=31 January 2011|magazine=Time | access-date=24 May 2011}}</ref>

The two red lines on the floor of the House of Commons are {{Convert|2.5|m|ftin}}<ref name="Factsheet G11" /> apart, which, by apocryphal tradition, is intended to be just over two sword-lengths. It is said that the original purpose of this was to prevent disputes in the House from degenerating into duels. However, there is no record of a time when Members of Parliament were allowed to bring swords into the Chamber; historically only the [[Serjeant at Arms of the British House of Commons|Serjeant at Arms]] has been allowed to carry a sword as a symbol of their role in Parliament, plus [[Black Rod]] when summoning the Commons to the Lords, and there are loops of pink ribbon in the Members' cloakroom for MPs to hang up their swords before entering the Chamber. In the days when gentlemen carried swords, there were no lines in the Chamber.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Rogers |first1=Robert |last2=Walters |first2=Rhodri |title=How Parliament Works |edition=6th |year=2006 |orig-year=1987 |publisher=Longman |isbn=978-1-4058-3255-7 |page=14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Rogers |first=Robert |title=Order! Order! A Parliamentary Miscellany |year=2009 |publisher=JR Books |location=London |isbn=978-1-906779-28-3 |page=27}}</ref> Protocol dictates that MPs may not cross these lines when speaking; a Member of Parliament who violates this convention will be lambasted by opposition Members.

=== Westminster Hall ===
{{Main article|Westminster Hall}}
[[File:Westminster Hall edited.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|alt=Engraving|Westminster Hall in the early 19th century, surmounted by its medieval [[hammerbeam roof]]]]

Westminster Hall is a large medieval [[great hall]] and the oldest surviving palace building.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Westminster Hall |url=https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/westminsterhall/ |access-date=5 November 2023 |website=UK Parliament}}</ref> It was erected in 1097 for [[William II of England|William II]] ("William Rufus"), at which point it was the largest hall in Europe.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Cescinsky |first1=Herbert |last2=Gribble |first2=Ernest R. |date=February 1922 |title=Westminster Hall and Its Roof |journal=The Burlington Magazine for Connoisseurs |volume=40 |issue=227 |pages=76–84 |jstor=861585}} {{Subscription required}}</ref> The building has had various functions over the years, including being used for judicial purposes from the twelfth to the nineteenth centuries.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Early law courts |language=en |url=https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/westminsterhall/government-and-administration/early-law-courts/ |access-date=9 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Later Law Courts |url=https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/westminsterhall/government-and-administration/later-law-courts/ |access-date=23 October 2020 |publisher=UK Parliament |language=en}}</ref> When a [[List of people who have addressed both houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom|joint address]] is given to the two chambers of the UK Parliament, the House of Commons and House of Lords, the hall is on rare occasions the venue.<ref name="BBCNews25May2011_9495513">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_commons/newsid_9495000/9495513.stm |title=US President Barack Obama addressing MPs and peers |publisher=BBC News |date=22 May 2011 |access-date=25 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525111555/http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_commons/newsid_9495000/9495513.stm |archive-date=25 May 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> It was also used to host [[coronation banquet]]s until the nineteenth century, and since the twentieth century has been the usual venue for the [[Lying in state|lyings in state]] of [[State funerals in the United Kingdom|state and ceremonial funerals]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/westminsterhall/other-uses/coronation-banquets/ |title=Westminster Hall: Coronation Banquets |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/evolutionofparliament/parliamentwork/offices-and-ceremonies/overview/lyings-in-state1/westminster/|title=Lyings-in-State in Westminster Hall|work=UK Parliament|accessdate=23 February 2023}}</ref>

The hall is particularly notable for its [[hammerbeam roof]], a form typical of [[English Gothic architecture]] which uses horizontal trusses to span large distances; the hall originally had three aisles. The roof was commissioned for [[Richard II]] in 1393 and built by the royal carpenter, [[Hugh Herland]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/westminsterhall/architecture/the-hammer-beam-roof-/ |title=The hammer-beam roof |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=28 May 2011}}</ref> It is the largest clearspan medieval roof in England, measuring 20.7 by 73.2 metres (68 by 240 ft).<ref name="Factsheet G11" /> The oak timbers came from woods in South-East England and were assembled near [[Farnham]], [[Surrey]], 56 kilometres (35 mi) away from Westminster.<ref>[[#Gerhold|Gerhold (1999)]], pp. 19–20.</ref> At the same time the rest of the hall was remodelled by the master mason [[Henry Yevele]], who refaced the walls and added fifteen life-size statues of kings placed in niches.<ref>Jonathan Alexander & Paul Binski (eds), ''Age of Chivalry, Art in Plantagenet England, 1200–1400'', pp. 506–507, Royal Academy/Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London 1987. Only six of the statues, rather damaged, remain, and the dias has been remodelled, but otherwise the hall remains largely as Richard and his master builder Henry Yevele left it.</ref> The renovations include eighty-three unique depictions of Richard's favourite heraldic badge, a resting chained [[white hart]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Bouell |first=Charles |authorlink=Charles Boutell |title=The Handbook to English Heraldry |edition=11th |editor-last=Fox Davies |editor-first=Arthur Charles |editor-link=Arthur Charles Fox-Davies |location=London |publisher=Reeves & Turner |year=1914 |page=28}}</ref>

=== Other rooms ===
{{Main|House of Lords Library|House of Commons Library}}

There are two suites of libraries on the Principal Floor, overlooking the river, for the [[House of Lords Library]] and [[House of Commons Library]].

The Palace of Westminster also includes state apartments for the presiding officers of the two Houses. The official [[Speaker's House|residence of the Speaker]] stands at the northern end of the palace; the Lord Chancellor's apartments are at the southern end. Each day, the Speaker and Lord Speaker take part in formal processions from their apartments to their respective Chambers.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/82047.stm |title=Speaker's procession |date=30 October 2008 |work=BBC News |access-date=21 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld/ldcomp/ldctso05.htm#a23 |title=Companion to the Standing Orders and guide to the Proceedings of the House of Lords |date=19 February 2007 |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=21 May 2010}}</ref>

The [[Strangers' Bar]] is one of the numerous bars, cafeterias and restaurants in the Palace of Westminster, with differing rules regarding who is allowed to use their facilities; many of them never close while the House is sitting.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-information-office/g19.pdf |title=The House of Commons Refreshment Department |date=September 2003 |publisher=House of Commons Information Office |access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref> There is also a gymnasium, a hair salon; and there was a rifle range (which closed in 2015).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Low |first=Valentine |date=2024-08-29 |title=Lords finally bite the bullet and get rid of rifle range |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/lords-finally-bite-the-bullet-and-get-rid-of-rifle-range-8vb5bhwfct2 |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=[[The Times]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9827316/Mystery-over-cost-of-House-of-Lords-rifle-range.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9827316/Mystery-over-cost-of-House-of-Lords-rifle-range.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Mystery over cost of House of Lords rifle range |date=27 January 2013 |access-date=3 February 2013 |location=London |work=The Daily Telegraph |first=Rowena |last=Mason}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Parliament also has two souvenir shops, where items on sale range from House of Commons key-rings and china to House of Commons Champagne.