Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, art historians at the University of York have now brought St Stephen’s Chapel and the Commons chamber to like again using a pioneering technique that combines traditional research with digital reconstruction.
The first House of Commons took shape in St. Stephens Chapel in the Palace of Westminster. For a period of 70 years, it had been furnished and used by Edward I, Edward II and Edward III, creating a setting for royal worship that was lavish and luxurious. Dr. John Cooper, from York University’s Department of History, said: “St Stephen’s was built by King Edward I to be a showcase of English royal splendor.”
After St. Stephen’s was dissolved during the Reformation of Edward VI, the upper chapel became the meeting-place of the House of Commons. And there the House of Commons remained until the fire in 1834. Dr. Cooper adds, “Members of Parliament had previously met in a number of different locations, however, once they took occupation of St Stephen’s, they never left, even though there was never a grand plan for a new home for the House of Commons.”
The move to St Stephen’s and the continuity of British [political culture
While the move to St. Stephen’s was a by-product of the Reformation, Dr. Cooper says it had “profound consequences for the future of British politics.”
The fire that gutted the Commons was caused by the burning of small wooden tally sticks which had been used as part of the accounting procedures of the Exchequer until 1826. The name Exchequer in British history refers to the government department that was responsible for receiving and dispersing the public revenue.
In the practice of the Exchequer, the table used was large, 10 feet by 5 feet with a raised edge or “lip” on all sides of about the height of four fingers to ensure that nothing fell off it, upon which counters or wooden tally sticks were placed representing various values. The spaces represented pounds, shillings, and pence.
“When the Commons was gutted in the Westminster fire of 1834, a new debating chamber was constructed of strikingly similar design. Our politicians still meet there today, in a Victorian re-imagination of a medieval and Tudor building. It’s a fascinating example of continuity in British political culture.”
York University Reconstruction project
With little to go on, historians and researchers could only resurrect the chapel through centuries-old documents in parliamentary and national archives. The art historians, using digital visualization along with the information provided by the historical records were able to reconstruct several models.
colors and textures of the building, but also similarities between political debate in the 16th century and today
One reconstruction model is from the 1360s, showing the original chapel. A second reconstruction is from the 1700s and shows the House of Commons after parliament members moved into the chapel building. Amazingly, the models reveal the textures and colors of the building and even the green cushions in Commons.
Another reconstruction from the 16th century shows dark red beams around stained-glass windows and deep blue and gold patterns across the arched roof. Another fascinating thing we can learn from the careful reconstructions is who the masons, painters, sculptors and many workmen involved its construction were and how much they were paid,
And the models also tell us a story about the politics that went on inside the chambers at different times in England’s history. One thing people will notice right off is that even in the 1600s, seating in the House of Commons is almost exactly the same as it is today.
Seating was arranged so that politicians would be facing each other at close quarters, much like today. The overcrowding in the room meant that discussion could get quite loud. When divisions were called, some MPs were reluctant to get up to vote in case they lost their seats to someone else.
Chris Bryant MP said: “The shape and architecture of St Stephen’s Chapel frame so many aspects of how we do our business in the Commons today. “We shouldn’t be bound by our history, but we should understand it better. This University of York project is enabling us to do just that.”
Today, there are Touch-screen versions of the 3D models on display in the Palace of Westminster and the Jewel Tower. The original research was presented at a conference at Portcullis House in September 2016 and is being published in a series of books and articles. This year, a follow-up project called “Listening to the Commons” began in February 2017 and runs through July 2018.
To view the 3D reconstructions of St Stephen’s Chapel visit: https://www.virtualststephens.org.uk/
