House of Commons Chamber 1941

This print depicts the destroyed House of Commons Chamber.

During the blitz of 1940-41 the Houses of Parliament were damaged on 14 different occasions. On the night of 10-11th May 1941, the House of Commons was hit by a number of incendiary bombs. The roof of Westminster Hall was set ablaze but saved by the fire service. The Commons Chamber was entirely destroyed. Three people lost their lives at Parliament during the blitz.

William Washington (1885 – 1956) was a master engraver who went on to become head of the Hammersmith School of Art and Building. Washington catches the details of torn, tangled metal and chunks of collapsed masonry where the House of Commons Chamber used to be.

To learn more about Parliament and World War Two through objects in our Heritage Collections, visit our online exhibition: The London Blitz and the Palace of Westminster.

Image: Parliamentary Art Collection, WOA 2385