1836
Charles Barry wins the competition to build a new Palace of Westminster after fire destroys most of the old palace. Barry engages AW Pugin to carry out the Gothic detail of the building.
1840
Foundation stone laid, following construction of concrete foundations
1847
House of Lords Chamber, Peers’ Lobby and Princes’ Chamber opened
1852
Official opening of the Palace on 3 February - first State Opening to use Royal Entrance beneath Victoria Tower, through Royal Gallery and into Lords’ Chamber - public access through Westminster Hall and St. Stephen’s Hall also ready at this time
1854
The inventor Goldsworthy Gurney replaces the engineer Dr David Boswell Reid with regard to the mechanical installations and simplifies ventilation system, while also designing special gas lighting for the interior
1856
Clock Tower completed. First hour bell, known as ‘Big Ben’ cast at Norton near Stockton on Tees in August
1857
Lords West Front overlooking Old Palace Yard roofed in – the last section of the building to be completed apart from the towers. First Big Ben cracked during testing before being hoisted; a second is cast and installed in the Clock Tower
1859
Clock mechanism set in motion and Big Ben chimes in July. Fractures are found in two places, and the bell ceases to be chimed in October
1860
Victoria Tower stonework completed. Iron lantern and flagstaff completed later by Charles Barry’s son, Edward Barry (herafter E M Barry), who is also an architect
1863
Big Ben turned one eighth of a turn so that the hammer does not hit the crack. It begins to chime once more
1864
Clock Tower completed, and development of New Palace Yard, drinking-fountain and cab-stand
1865
Royal Gallery completed with Daniel Maclise frescoes of battle scenes and J B Philip statues of ‘warrior’ kings and queens
1866
Eighteenth century houses on north side of New Palace Yard demolished and large open courtyard created
1867
New Commons Chamber planned by E M Barry, but plan abandoned
1868
Decoration of Chapel of St Mary Undercroft completed by E M Barry
1868
Colonnade to Underground and New Palace Yard railings completed
1870
Mosaics completed in Central Lobby, designed by E M Barry and made by Salviati
1870
Subway beneath Bridge Street completed in February by E M Barry
1870
Further new decoration of the interior was prevented by the First Commissioner of Works because of time and cost. E M Barry dismissed.
1871
Decoration of Queen’s Robing Room completed
1883
First telephones introduced.
1884
First electric lighting introduced (in House of Lords offices).
1885
Ayrton Light installed at the top of the Clock Tower. This electric light indicates whether either House is sitting.
1885
Fenian bombs damage Westminster Hall and Commons Chamber
1889
The architect J L Pearson’s Westminster Hall Annexe is completed to provide extra offices and a conference room
1890
Installation of “Shone” Hydro-Pneumatic System for drainage allows sewage to be removed efficiently to the mains sewer. Thee system is still in use today.
1893
House of Lords Chamber first lit by electricity
1893
First lift installed (to Ladies Gallery, House of Commons Chamber)
1897
Drainage steam-engine is installed, replacing original gas engines. This can still be used today when the electric systems fail.
1906
Clock faces in the Clock Tower are lit by electric lamps, replacing gas.
1912
Electric lighting replaces gas in the Commons Chamber.
1914
Parliamentary report into the condition of Westminster Hall roof indicates that the timbers are found to have been badly damaged by Death Watch Beetle
1922
First World War memorial in St. Stephen’s Porch completed.
1923
Repairs and strengthening to Westminster Hall roof completed. Steel is introduced to take the weight from the oak timbers.
1926
Office of Works prepares a memorandum on the defective stonework because the London atmosphere has damaged large areas of exterior stone.
1927
‘Building of Britain’ history paintings in St. Stephen’s Hall completed.
1929
Stonework repairs begin on the exterior and continue until the Second World War. Clipsham Stone from Rutland is used for repairs because it is better able to resist the corrosive London atmosphere.
1931
Gas finally ceases to be used for lighting anywhere in the building.
1940
Second World War bomb destroys south window of Westminster Hall in September.
1940
Bombs destroy south and east sides of Cloisters in December.
1941
House of Commons Chamber destroyed by bombing in May.
1943
Select committee appointed to consider rebuilding the Commons Chamber.
1945
Select committee report on Commons Chamber accepted in January.
1945
Contract placed for the foundations for the new Commons Chamber. Site cleared from May onwards. Designs for the new Chamber developed by Giles and Adrian Gilbert-Scott.
1948
Foundation stone laid for new Commons Chamber on 26 May.
1950
New House of Commons Chamber and surrounding offices opened.
1950
Repairs to Westminster Hall roof finished and new lantern made.
1951
New boiler house constructed beneath Black Rod’s Garden.
1951
Repairs to Cloisters completed in December.
1960
Removal of four old floors in Victoria Tower, and their replacement by seven new ones. This allows the Tower to be used as modern repository for the Parliamentary Archives which include the Acts of Parliament.
1967
Star Chamber Court offices constructed for MPs’ accommodation.
1972
Terrace wall raised as a flood defence measure.
1972
Remains of a medieval well discovered during the construction of the car park beneath New Palace Yard
1974
New Palace Yard Underground Car Park completed - seven floors in total.
1974
IRA bomb damages Westminster Hall roof and annexe.
1974
Reproduction Pugin wallpaper provided for the Moses Room under the guidance of the Victoria and Albert Museum, thereby initiating the careful analysis of original schemes and their conservation.
1980
Repairs to the Lords’ Chamber ceiling and throne initiates conservation of other interiors, such as the introduction of Pugin wallpapers.
1981
Cleaning and repair of exterior stonework begun.
1990
Ibbs’ Report suggests a phased works programme of improvements.
1993
Cleaning and repair of the main facades completed with the Victoria Tower.
2002
Visitors’ (Jubilee) Cafeteria opened in Westminster Hall Annexe.
2004
Security screen introduced into the Commons Chamber Visitors’ Gallery.
2005
Security search area removed from St. Stephen’s Porch, and temporary security set up in Old Palace Yard.
2008
Visitor Reception Building opened to provide new search facilities for all visitors entering the Palace.
2011
Speaker’s Court cast iron roof overhauled. Cast iron tiles are removed, cleaned, repaired and replaced onto the original frame. Some 20% have to be replaced because of poor casting.
2012
Repairs begin to stonework and north window of Westminster Hall.