Victorian Commons
@victoriancommons.bsky.social
The History of Parliament's House of Commons 1832-1945 project, currently researching MPs, elections and parliamentary history between 1832 and 1868. Find more details on our website: https://victoriancommons.wordpress.com/
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Stephen Farrell's @histparl.bsky.social and Stephen Ball's forthcoming @victoriancommons.bsky.social profiles of Rossmore mention his bagpiping. To Ball, it was evidence of
Rossmore's 'strong sense of Irishness'. Farrell's profile can be read here: www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-...
Rossmore's 'strong sense of Irishness'. Farrell's profile can be read here: www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-...
www.historyofparliamentonline.org
November 23, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Stephen Farrell's @histparl.bsky.social and Stephen Ball's forthcoming @victoriancommons.bsky.social profiles of Rossmore mention his bagpiping. To Ball, it was evidence of
Rossmore's 'strong sense of Irishness'. Farrell's profile can be read here: www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-...
Rossmore's 'strong sense of Irishness'. Farrell's profile can be read here: www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-...
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Yesterday I visited Monaghan County Museum for the first time since they moved the new Peace Campus last year. My favourite item exhibited was the bagpipes of William Henry Westenra, third Baron Rossmore, much about whom I have researched and written for my thesis.
November 23, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Yesterday I visited Monaghan County Museum for the first time since they moved the new Peace Campus last year. My favourite item exhibited was the bagpipes of William Henry Westenra, third Baron Rossmore, much about whom I have researched and written for my thesis.
Andrew Carew O’Dwyer, born #OnThisDay 1801, was an Irish barrister who became MP for Drogheda in 1832. Although he won the next election in 1835, he was unseated for failing to meet the property qualification then required of MPs. Find out more: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2018/02/22/m...
MP of the Month: Andrew Carew O’Dwyer (1801-1877)
Many of our recent posts have focused on the way barriers to the franchise were gradually removed in the 19th century, but it is worth noting that there were also many barriers to becoming a Victor…
victoriancommons.wordpress.com
November 23, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Andrew Carew O’Dwyer, born #OnThisDay 1801, was an Irish barrister who became MP for Drogheda in 1832. Although he won the next election in 1835, he was unseated for failing to meet the property qualification then required of MPs. Find out more: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2018/02/22/m...
William Tooke, MP for Truro, who was born #OnThisDay 1777, was the leading figure in the campaign to secure a royal charter for London University. Find out more about his efforts in our short article: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2019/08/30/m...
MP of the Month: William Tooke and the royal charters of the University of London
Following our blogs on the creation of the University of London constituency in 1868 and its first MP, Robert Lowe, August’s MP of the Month is William Tooke. As MP for Truro from 1832, Tooke worke…
victoriancommons.wordpress.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:55 AM
William Tooke, MP for Truro, who was born #OnThisDay 1777, was the leading figure in the campaign to secure a royal charter for London University. Find out more about his efforts in our short article: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2019/08/30/m...
And we should add, before our @georgianlords.bsky.social colleagues beat us to it, that before it was used by the Victorian Commons, the building was home to the Lords!
This is an exciting find: the remains of the building used by the House of Commons as its temporary chamber between 1835 and 1851. If you want to know what that building looked like, see our short article: historyofparliament.com/2025/09/25/t...
November 21, 2025 at 6:36 PM
And we should add, before our @georgianlords.bsky.social colleagues beat us to it, that before it was used by the Victorian Commons, the building was home to the Lords!
This is an exciting find: the remains of the building used by the House of Commons as its temporary chamber between 1835 and 1851. If you want to know what that building looked like, see our short article: historyofparliament.com/2025/09/25/t...
November 21, 2025 at 6:19 PM
This is an exciting find: the remains of the building used by the House of Commons as its temporary chamber between 1835 and 1851. If you want to know what that building looked like, see our short article: historyofparliament.com/2025/09/25/t...
This may be of interest to some of our followers.
📢Call For Papers📢
Sociability & Political life
Marc Jaffré & I are organising a conference! We're asking: can there be politics without sociability? How have friendship, intimacy, socialising & informal attachments been central to political projects & movements?
Get your abstracts in by Feb 14th!
Sociability & Political life
Marc Jaffré & I are organising a conference! We're asking: can there be politics without sociability? How have friendship, intimacy, socialising & informal attachments been central to political projects & movements?
Get your abstracts in by Feb 14th!
November 21, 2025 at 4:54 PM
This may be of interest to some of our followers.
The timetable of the parliamentary day has long been the subject of debate. #OnThisDay 1837 Joseph Brotherton, MP for Salford, failed in one of his many attempts to limit sittings after midnight. Find out more about him in our post: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2021/10/27/i...
‘I shall persist’: Joseph Brotherton (1783-1857) and late hours in the Commons
Joseph Brotherton by Samuel William Reynolds Jr (1836) (C) NPG In 1832 the borough of Salford elected its first MP, who would represent the constituency for the next quarter-century. Described in 1…
victoriancommons.wordpress.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:39 PM
The timetable of the parliamentary day has long been the subject of debate. #OnThisDay 1837 Joseph Brotherton, MP for Salford, failed in one of his many attempts to limit sittings after midnight. Find out more about him in our post: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2021/10/27/i...
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With this years Ashes beginning in the early hours of this morning, we thought we'd point you in the direction of @TheVictCommons where they explore the link between cricket and the Victorian House of Commons
historyofparliament.com/2025/11/20/c...
historyofparliament.com/2025/11/20/c...
Cricket in the Commons: a Victorian First Eleven - The History of Parliament
With the 2025 Ashes between England and Australia getting underway this week, we have a cricketing themed post from our House of Commons, 1832-1945 project.
historyofparliament.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:38 AM
With this years Ashes beginning in the early hours of this morning, we thought we'd point you in the direction of @TheVictCommons where they explore the link between cricket and the Victorian House of Commons
historyofparliament.com/2025/11/20/c...
historyofparliament.com/2025/11/20/c...
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POV: you’ve been hiding under the Palace of Westminster for hundreds of years.
See what we uncovered during recent surveys of the Palace as we prepare for its restoration.
See what we uncovered during recent surveys of the Palace as we prepare for its restoration.
November 20, 2025 at 6:51 PM
POV: you’ve been hiding under the Palace of Westminster for hundreds of years.
See what we uncovered during recent surveys of the Palace as we prepare for its restoration.
See what we uncovered during recent surveys of the Palace as we prepare for its restoration.
George Barrington, born #OnThisDay 1794, was the son-in-law of the Whig prime minister Earl Grey and was elected MP for Sunderland in 1832. However, his Commons career was curtailed by mental health issues, a subject explored here: thehistoryofparliament.wordpress.com/2018/05/17/o...
'Of unsound mind'? MPs, mental health and the 1886 Lunacy (Vacating of Seats) Act - The History of Parliament
In 1886 Parliament passed the first piece of legislation dealing directly with the mental health of its members, the Lunacy (Vacating of Seats) Act
thehistoryofparliament.wordpress.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:39 AM
George Barrington, born #OnThisDay 1794, was the son-in-law of the Whig prime minister Earl Grey and was elected MP for Sunderland in 1832. However, his Commons career was curtailed by mental health issues, a subject explored here: thehistoryofparliament.wordpress.com/2018/05/17/o...
Our #1832AtoZ continues with S for Scotland. There were 51 Scottish constituencies in the 1832-67 period, returning 53 MPs. This post explores some of the features of the Scottish electoral system: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2013/04/26/t...
The Scottish dimension (2)
Following on from the first blog in this series in January, this post focuses on the distinctive nature of the Scottish representative system before and after the 1832 Scottish Reform Act. Both the…
victoriancommons.wordpress.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Our #1832AtoZ continues with S for Scotland. There were 51 Scottish constituencies in the 1832-67 period, returning 53 MPs. This post explores some of the features of the Scottish electoral system: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2013/04/26/t...
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If you're interested in Scottish national identity, eighteenth-century fashion, and/or women in politics, you may be interested in the paper I'm presenting at the IHR Parliaments, Politics & People seminar next Tuesday. Best of all, it's online!
#eighteenthcentury #womenshistory #Scottishhistory
#eighteenthcentury #womenshistory #Scottishhistory
On 25 November, Dr Natalie Garrett will be speaking at the next IHR Parliaments, Politics & People Seminar, where they will be presenting on Jane, duchess of Gordon and the Romanticisation of Scottish Identity in London, c.1780-1812.
Find out more and how to attend below:
Find out more and how to attend below:
‘The Tartan Rage’: Fashion, High Society, and Scottish Identity in Eighteenth-Century London - The History of Parliament
The Tartan rage has at length reached Paris,’ declared the World in June 1787. Demand for tartan fabric and accessories had swept British high society earlier that year, with the Gazetteer and New…
historyofparliament.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:27 PM
If you're interested in Scottish national identity, eighteenth-century fashion, and/or women in politics, you may be interested in the paper I'm presenting at the IHR Parliaments, Politics & People seminar next Tuesday. Best of all, it's online!
#eighteenthcentury #womenshistory #Scottishhistory
#eighteenthcentury #womenshistory #Scottishhistory
It was rare for Parliament to be sitting in November during our 1832-68 period, but #OnThisDay 1847, following a general election held in July & August, a new Parliament was opened by royal commission (i.e. not by Queen Victoria in person): api.parliament.uk/historic-han...
api.parliament.uk
November 18, 2025 at 12:29 PM
It was rare for Parliament to be sitting in November during our 1832-68 period, but #OnThisDay 1847, following a general election held in July & August, a new Parliament was opened by royal commission (i.e. not by Queen Victoria in person): api.parliament.uk/historic-han...
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In November 1749, John London walked from his home to vote in the Westminster constituency parliamentary by-election.
As Dr Gillian Williamson explores, this provides the earliest known record of a Black person voting in a British parliamentary election:
As Dr Gillian Williamson explores, this provides the earliest known record of a Black person voting in a British parliamentary election:
John London: Britain's First Black Voter? - The History of Parliament
this election could serve as the earliest known record of a Black person voting in a British parliamentary election - John London
historyofparliament.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:30 PM
In November 1749, John London walked from his home to vote in the Westminster constituency parliamentary by-election.
As Dr Gillian Williamson explores, this provides the earliest known record of a Black person voting in a British parliamentary election:
As Dr Gillian Williamson explores, this provides the earliest known record of a Black person voting in a British parliamentary election:
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An @ihr.bsky.social Parliaments, Politics & People seminar on 3 December will be of interest to our members & followers:
Helen Wilson, 'Black and Political: Reconstructing Black Participation in British Politics, 1750-1850'
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
#Prosopography #PoliticalHistory
Helen Wilson, 'Black and Political: Reconstructing Black Participation in British Politics, 1750-1850'
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
#Prosopography #PoliticalHistory
Black and Political: Reconstructing Black Participation in British Politics, 1750-1850
www.history.ac.uk
November 17, 2025 at 11:58 AM
An @ihr.bsky.social Parliaments, Politics & People seminar on 3 December will be of interest to our members & followers:
Helen Wilson, 'Black and Political: Reconstructing Black Participation in British Politics, 1750-1850'
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
#Prosopography #PoliticalHistory
Helen Wilson, 'Black and Political: Reconstructing Black Participation in British Politics, 1750-1850'
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
#Prosopography #PoliticalHistory
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This #MapMonday let us take you back in time ⌛
We've just added first edition 6-inch to the mile Ordnance Survey maps of England and Wales to our website, published from the 1840s to 1880s. These maps are all from bound volumes.
Explore the maps > maps.nls.uk/additions/#188
We've just added first edition 6-inch to the mile Ordnance Survey maps of England and Wales to our website, published from the 1840s to 1880s. These maps are all from bound volumes.
Explore the maps > maps.nls.uk/additions/#188
November 17, 2025 at 9:00 AM
This #MapMonday let us take you back in time ⌛
We've just added first edition 6-inch to the mile Ordnance Survey maps of England and Wales to our website, published from the 1840s to 1880s. These maps are all from bound volumes.
Explore the maps > maps.nls.uk/additions/#188
We've just added first edition 6-inch to the mile Ordnance Survey maps of England and Wales to our website, published from the 1840s to 1880s. These maps are all from bound volumes.
Explore the maps > maps.nls.uk/additions/#188
Died #OnThisDay in 1877, aged 42, Hon. Augustus Anson, awarded the Victoria Cross in 1857 while serving with the army in India. He was Liberal MP for Lichfield 1859-68, and Bewdley 1869-74, and spoke on military matters in the Commons.
November 17, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Died #OnThisDay in 1877, aged 42, Hon. Augustus Anson, awarded the Victoria Cross in 1857 while serving with the army in India. He was Liberal MP for Lichfield 1859-68, and Bewdley 1869-74, and spoke on military matters in the Commons.
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Born #OTD 1811, John Bright.
A Radical MP from 1843-89, Bright was a champion of parliamentary reform and co-founder of the Anti-Corn Law League.
Dr Simon Morgan explored how Bright and other popular politicians in the age of reform became 'cultural phenomena':
A Radical MP from 1843-89, Bright was a champion of parliamentary reform and co-founder of the Anti-Corn Law League.
Dr Simon Morgan explored how Bright and other popular politicians in the age of reform became 'cultural phenomena':
From ‘People’s Champions’ to ‘Tribunes of the People’: popular politicians in Parliament, c. 1810 to 1867 - The History of Parliament
To find out more, Simon’s full-length paper ‘From ‘People’s Champions’ to ‘Tribunes of the People’: popular politicians in Parliament, c. 1810 to 1867’ is
historyofparliament.com
November 16, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Born #OTD 1811, John Bright.
A Radical MP from 1843-89, Bright was a champion of parliamentary reform and co-founder of the Anti-Corn Law League.
Dr Simon Morgan explored how Bright and other popular politicians in the age of reform became 'cultural phenomena':
A Radical MP from 1843-89, Bright was a champion of parliamentary reform and co-founder of the Anti-Corn Law League.
Dr Simon Morgan explored how Bright and other popular politicians in the age of reform became 'cultural phenomena':
Andrew O’Dwyer, who died #OnThisDay 1877, was MP for the Irish borough of Drogheda, 1832-5, but later lost this seat because he lacked the property qualification then required of MPs. Find out more about his political career here: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2018/02/22/m...
MP of the Month: Andrew Carew O’Dwyer (1801-1877)
Many of our recent posts have focused on the way barriers to the franchise were gradually removed in the 19th century, but it is worth noting that there were also many barriers to becoming a Victor…
victoriancommons.wordpress.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Andrew O’Dwyer, who died #OnThisDay 1877, was MP for the Irish borough of Drogheda, 1832-5, but later lost this seat because he lacked the property qualification then required of MPs. Find out more about his political career here: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2018/02/22/m...
Great to see our @histparl.bsky.social colleague @alfiesteer.bsky.social in action!
Next up at #nacbs2025 is a fab lineup of rising history stars in field of histories of activism in late 20th century Britain incl: @racheljcollett.bsky.social @alfiesteer.bsky.social Dan Frost & Jess White.
November 14, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Great to see our @histparl.bsky.social colleague @alfiesteer.bsky.social in action!
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A big thank you to everyone who came to History Day 2025! You can check out the online collections all year round on the Discover Collections site 🌟
buff.ly/xNpd7uF
@senatehouselib.bsky.social @ihrlibrary.bsky.social
buff.ly/xNpd7uF
@senatehouselib.bsky.social @ihrlibrary.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 3:31 PM
A big thank you to everyone who came to History Day 2025! You can check out the online collections all year round on the Discover Collections site 🌟
buff.ly/xNpd7uF
@senatehouselib.bsky.social @ihrlibrary.bsky.social
buff.ly/xNpd7uF
@senatehouselib.bsky.social @ihrlibrary.bsky.social
Sir Philip de Malpas Grey-Egerton, long-serving Conservative MP for Cheshire South, who lobbied on behalf of the local cheese industry, was born #OnThisDay 1806. He was a noted collector of fossilised fish. Find out more here: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2017/07/31/m...
MP of the Month: Sir Philip de Malpas Grey-Egerton (1806-81)
Many of our recent ‘MP of the Month’ posts have focused on self-made men from non-élite backgrounds. Their numbers on the back benches and contribution to the practical business of Parliament (espe…
victoriancommons.wordpress.com
November 13, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Sir Philip de Malpas Grey-Egerton, long-serving Conservative MP for Cheshire South, who lobbied on behalf of the local cheese industry, was born #OnThisDay 1806. He was a noted collector of fossilised fish. Find out more here: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2017/07/31/m...
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The History of Parliament is excited to announce this year's Annual Lecture!
On 16 December in Portcullis House, Rt Hon. Nick Thomas-Symonds will be speaking on 'Clement Attlee’s Labour Governments of 1945-51: A Reappraisal'.
Tickets are FREE and can be found in the link below:
On 16 December in Portcullis House, Rt Hon. Nick Thomas-Symonds will be speaking on 'Clement Attlee’s Labour Governments of 1945-51: A Reappraisal'.
Tickets are FREE and can be found in the link below:
Annual Lecture: Clement Attlee’s Labour Governments of 1945-51
Join us for the History of Parliament Annual Lecture for 2025, given by Rt Hon. Nick Thomas-Symonds.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 10:06 AM
The History of Parliament is excited to announce this year's Annual Lecture!
On 16 December in Portcullis House, Rt Hon. Nick Thomas-Symonds will be speaking on 'Clement Attlee’s Labour Governments of 1945-51: A Reappraisal'.
Tickets are FREE and can be found in the link below:
On 16 December in Portcullis House, Rt Hon. Nick Thomas-Symonds will be speaking on 'Clement Attlee’s Labour Governments of 1945-51: A Reappraisal'.
Tickets are FREE and can be found in the link below:
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I have studied much about Edward Lucas for my PhD research, particularly his role as MP for County Monaghan from 1834 to 1841. For anyone in Dublin today and free, I'll be mentioning him in my talk at @historytcd.bsky.social seminar in @tlrhub.bsky.social at 2.30pm
Edward Lucas, who died #OnThisDay 1871, was a talented Irish MP. In September 1841 Sir Robert Peel appointed him as under-secretary for Ireland. He served until 1845, during a turbulent time in Irish politics. Find out more about him here: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2016/08/23/m...
MP of the Month: Edward Lucas and the administration of Ireland, 1841-5
Edward Lucas was already an experienced parliamentarian when in September 1841 he was appointed under-secretary for Ireland, a post which for at least three-quarters of the year made the holder ‘th…
victoriancommons.wordpress.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:20 AM
I have studied much about Edward Lucas for my PhD research, particularly his role as MP for County Monaghan from 1834 to 1841. For anyone in Dublin today and free, I'll be mentioning him in my talk at @historytcd.bsky.social seminar in @tlrhub.bsky.social at 2.30pm