House of Commons

“The building used by the House of Commons for their sittings, joins to the south-east angle of Westminster Hall, and was formerly a part of the old palace.

....it appears, that, about the year 1651, the walls were covered with tapestry hangings, probably to conceal [the plain] wainscoting: for they are so given in the perspective view of the House of Commons, on the back of the great seal of the commonwealth of England, 1651; and in this manner they continued to be decorated down to the time of Queen Anne, in whose reign Sir Christopher Wren was employed to repair the building, and fit up its inside with galleries.

In the year 1800, the number of members of the House of Commons being increased from 558 to 658, in consequence of the act of Parliament for uniting the two kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland, the building itself was thought too small for their reception. The original side walls, between the piers, were three feet thick; and it was therefore found, that by erecting on the same foundation, but so as to range with the external extremity of the old, other walls of less dimensions, as being only one foot thick, the building might be considerably enlarged internally, and sufficient room be obtained; and this plan was accordingly determined on.

On removing the wainscoting, as a preparatory step to take down these walls, a discovery was made, of which no one had any suspicion; namely, the the stone walls had been originally painted with a variety of subjects, and that many of them were in such a perfect state as to admit of their being copied and engraven.

....The House of Commons is plainly and neatly fitted up, and accommodated with galleries, supported by slender iron pillars, adorned with Corinthian capitals and sconces; from the middle of the ceiling hangs a handsome branch or lustre. At the upper end, the speaker is placed upon a raised seat, ornamented behind with Corinthian columns, and the imperial arms, carved and placed on a pediment; before him is a table, at which the clerk and his assistants sit. Just below the chair, and on each side, as well as below the galleries, the members seat themselves promiscuously. The speaker and clerks always wear gowns in the house, as also the professors of the law in term time; but no other of the members wear robes, except the four representatives for the City of London, who, the first day of every new Parliament, are dressed in scarlet gowns, and sit on the right hand of the chair, next to the speaker.

The Parliament sits upon any day except on Sundays, or other high festivals, or fast days, when it is not usual to assemble, unless upon the most urgent occasions: but though the speaker always adjourns the house to nine o'clock of the morning of the day when they agree to meet again, the house seldom meets before noon.

This house has concurrent power with the lords in all matters of legislation, and no law can be made without their united consent.”