SoLiD GRoOvEs

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Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle was one of The First modern visitors to used The Hidden chamber

A forgotten Passage, the power of the Prime Ministers and political luminaries - and the course of the Victorian workers has been revealed in Parliament.

historians working on the renovation of The House of Commons found the lost 360-year-old passage, hidden in a secret chamber.

The door was for The Coronation of Charles II in 1660, so that the guests will have access to a festive Banquet in Westminster Hall , The Building next to the modern Commons chamber.

It was of generations of members and political dignitaries, such as the writer Samuel Pepys , as the main entrance to The Commons , But was blocked before he hides in the thick walls of the old building.

It was shortly re-discovered in 1950, during the repairs of the bomb damage, But then closed again and forgotten Until Now . To say

"that we were surprised is an understatement - we really thought you had previously installed for ages, But after The War ," says Mark Collins , the Parliament, the estates historian.

Liz Hallam Smith, historical Advisor to the Parliament's architecture and heritage team, said: "I was surprised, because it shows that The Palace of Westminster has to give so many secrets.

"It is the way that the speaker would come the procession, on the way to The House of Commons, as well as many of the members over the centuries, so it is a very historic place. "

The current inhabitants of the speakers chair, Sir Lindsay Hoyle said: "To believe that this pavement was of so many important people over the centuries is incredible. I'm so proud of our employees for making this discovery. "

A brass memorial plaque, erected in Westminster Hall in the year 1895 marked the place where the door once was, But , says Dr Hallam Smith, "almost nothing was known about them".

It was behind a thick masonry wall on the hall side, and The Wood paneling that runs the entire length of a Tudor monastery, on The Other side.

until three years ago, the monastery had been used as office rooms of the Labour Party , and before that, a cloakroom for MPs.

in The West cloister, where the door to The Chamber was prior to the

It was Dr. Hallam Smith discovered, the detection of small, secret door, the set had been in the convent of the panel, while the Parliament is the last big renovation in the year 1950.

"We were week to 10,000 uncatalogued archives in Swindon, documents relating to The Palace in the ancient England, if we plans to the the door in the cloister behind the Westminster Hall .

"When we looked at the panel closely, we realized it was a small brass key-hole, no-one had really noticed, to believe, it could Just Be a power-Cabinet. "

The Team turned to the Parliament of the locksmith for help and, with some difficulty, he was able to open the wooden door, to reveal a tiny, stone-tiled chamber, with a walled-up door on the opposite wall.

she discovered the original hinges for the two doors made of wood 3. 5m high that would have opened in Westminster Hall .

They also found graffiti dates back to the reconstruction of the Parliament, in a neo-Gothic style after The Fire in 1834 much destroyed the medieval Palace.

The scribbled pencil marks, to the left of The Men who helped to block the passage, the reading on both sides in the years 1851 to: "This Room was surrounded by Tom Porter , who was very fond of Ould Ale . "

pencil graffiti dates back to the 1850s can still be seen on then name, The Witnesses of "the article of The Wall " - apparently the architect Sir Charles Barry ' s Masonic beige masons, the labourers, Thomas Porter in A Toast to the brand of space of the housing act.

The Men , all of which can be traced in the 1851 census returns as Richard Condon , James Williams , Henry Terry, Thomas Parker, and Peter Dewal.

Finally, the graffiti said: "These were free masons, a revision of the surface of this groines. [ie the repair of the monastery] August 11th 1851 Real Democrats . "

This reference to the "real Democrats ", suggests The Group were part of the Chartist movement, which are allowed for each man at the age of 21 years of age, have a voice, and for would-be-to-be MPs, even if you don't own property.

"Charles Barry ' s Masonic were pretty subversive," said Dr. Hallam Smith.

"you have a few scraps were involved quite, as The Palace was built. I think these were a bit bolshie, But also very solemn, because They just had to speed The First great restoration of this beautiful Tudor cross. "

part of the walled-up door in The Hidden chamber:

The Team are looking forward to the track, The Descendants of Tom Porter and his colleagues have already discovered that the workers lived in dwellings in the vicinity of the Parliament.

It was another surprise for The Team when They were in the passage - in the light in The Room .

The lamp still worked after 70 years

A light Switch - it's probably installed, which illuminated in the 1950S , the great Osram-lamp with the inscription "HM Government Property". The Team is eager to learn more about the history of this hardy bulb.

Dr. Collins said, further investigation made it, the door dated back at least 360 years.

commemorative plaque in Westminster Hall may not be quite correct, The Team

dendrochronology Tests believed showed that the ceiling beams on the small Room dated from the trees like 1659 - tied in with survivor accounts stated that the gate was in 1660-61 for The Coronation Banquet of Charles II.

This is in contrast to The Words on the brass plaque in Westminster Hall , the state used the passage in 1642 by Charles I when he tried to the arrest of five members, which the researchers believe is not correct.

Dr. Collins said that the plans that led to their discovery, are now being digitized as part of the Parliament's restoration and renewal program.

"The Mystery of The Secret door is a that discover we have enjoyed, But The Palace No Doubt has a lot more secrets," he added.

"We hope that the history with visitors to The Palace , as The Building finally restored to its former glory so that it can be given to generations and is Never Forgotten again. "

uk parliament

Source of news: bbc.com