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Japanese visits to the Palace of Westminster in the Parliamentary Archives

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Group of 5 men on the House of Commons Terrace. All wearing suits and some carrying bowler hats. The Prince is middle, looking solemn, holding a hat. Teeling is second left, smiling, the tallest of the five.

By Mari Takayanagi, Senior Archivist Following the recent State Visit to the UK by the Emperor and Empress of Japan, this blog looks at historic visits to Parliament by members of the Japanese royal family and other Japanese dignitaries, as …

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 …

Pasting the Proclamation: Helen Fox and Barbara Duval

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A woman pastes a Proclamation poster onto a wall, on top of another poster titled Hackney Carriages. Another women stands nearby with a bunch more posters,.

By Mari Takayanagi, Senior Archivist The Parliamentary Archives recently acquired a wonderful new suffragette photograph! It shows suffragettes from the Women's Freedom League (WFL) pasting a Proclamation on a board advertising Hackney Carriage Prices. The two women are Barbara Duval …

Margaret Wintringham, first Liberal woman MP

Event for women MPs celebrating Megan Lloyd George's 20th anniversary in Parliament, 31 May 1949.

By Mari Takayanagi, Senior Archivist  On 22 September 1921, Margaret Wintringham (1879-1955) was elected MP for Louth in Lincolnshire in a by-election, becoming the first ever Liberal woman MP.  She was the third woman MP ever elected, following Constance Markievicz in 1918 and …

TO THE WIRE: The race to pass the 1970 Chronically Sick & Disabled Persons Act

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Black and white photograph of Alfred Morris in suit, sitting at a desk, staring at a small ornament bust.

This blog was written by Richard Ward, Assistant Archives Officer. The House of Lords Order Paper for the 19th April 2000 noted a chamber debate taking place that afternoon to mark the thirtieth anniversary of the passing of the 1970 …

The Parliamentary Archives Jargon Buster: Acts of Parliament

large rolled act, tied with acid free tape

This blog was written by Verity Jones, Archives Assistant Graduate Trainee. I am currently the Archives Assistant Graduate Trainee in the Parliamentary Archives, having started in September 2019. Over the last 8 months, I have got to grips with many …

Abolition Petitions to the House of Commons

handwritten document

This is a guest post by Dr Katie Carpenter, Creative Economy Engagement Fellow for the Parliamentary Archives and Royal Holloway, University of London Religious communities, especially non-conformist groups, were active in the movement to abolish slavery in the British Empire. …