The Palace of Westminster is destroyed by fire

Background. The Palace of Westminster, home to the British parliament, was largely destroyed by fire on 16 October 1834. The blaze was caused by the burning of small wooden tally sticks, used in Exchequer accounting until 1826. These sticks were disposed of carelessly in furnaces under the House of Lords, igniting chimney flues. Prior to the fire, the palace had been developed by architects like Vardy, Wyatt, and Soane, but facilities remained poor, prompting calls for new accommodation.

Incident. In October 1834, Richard Weobley, Clerk of Works, burned tally sticks in the House of Lords furnaces. The chimneys had not been swept, leading to clinker buildup. A strong smell of burning was noticed in the Lords' chambers on the afternoon of 16 October. By half-past seven, fire engines arrived, but flames had gained predominance. Fireman Braidwood focused on saving Westminster Hall by cutting away the roof connection to the burning Speaker's House.

Aftermath. The fire destroyed a large part of the palace, including St Stephen's Chapel, the Lords Chamber, and the Painted Chamber. Westminster Hall was saved. MPs and peers, including Lord Palmerston, helped rescue books and treasures. The Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms saved the parliamentary mace. The incident occurred amidst concerns over European revolutions and domestic unrest, such as the Captain Swing riots and the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834.