Tag: State Opening of Parliament

Tudor, 16th Century history, Parliamentary Life, The First Elizabethan Age

Picturing the Parliament of 1523

What did a meeting of the English Parliament look like 500 years ago? The earliest-known image of a state opening offers important clues, but also requires careful interpretation, as Dr Paul Hunneyball of our Lords 1558-1603 section explains… The picture shown below is the oldest near-contemporary image of an English Parliament that we know of. As such it has almost iconic status, and has been … Continue reading Picturing the Parliament of 1523

Paul Hunneyball1 Comment
The Commons in the Wars of the Roses, 15th Century History, 16th Century history, Medieval, Parliamentary Life

Knock, knock. Who’s there? Black Rod: the Early Centuries

Last week Parliament announced they are advertising for a new Black Rod. In today’s blog, as Dr Hannes Kleineke, Senior Research Fellow in our Commons 1422-1504 project, discusses the medieval origins of the post… To most people taking an interest in the work and procedures of the British Parliament, the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod (or ‘Black Rod’ as he is known in popular … Continue reading Knock, knock. Who’s there? Black Rod: the Early Centuries

Hannes Kleineke2 Comments