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Jane Julia Bennett, Keeper of the Keys of the House of Lords

Painting showing monarch on throne and Lords assembled in grand space with high ceilings and large paintings on wall

Guest blog by Dr Elizabeth Hallam Smith Jane Julia Bennett, née Wright, Deputy Housekeeper and then Housekeeper to the House of Lords, holds a remarkable place in the history of Parliament.  For she was the only woman to occupy a …

Snatched from the Flames: John Bellamy’s Account Book

A volume open to show burned, scorched handwritten pages

Guest blog by Dr Elizabeth Hallam Smith In June 2023 Parliament celebrates 250 years since the opening of the famous Bellamy’s Kitchen and Refreshment Rooms, which from 1773 to 1851 comprised Parliament's main catering outfit.  Here MPs, peers and their …