BRIEF HISTORY DURING THE SNOW ERA (1813-58)

The Houses of Parliament sit in the Palace of Westminster located on the banks of the River Thames in the London borough of Westminster.  The original Palace of Westminster was built in the eleventh century for King Edward I. After his death in 1066, the Palace became home to King William I and  remained the main residence of the kings of England until the reign of King Henry VIII (1509-47).  Over the years, the Lords and Commons held separate deliberations in the Palace, but did not became official occupants until after 1547 when it was no longer the king's home.   

A great fire on October 16, 1834 destroyed much of the Palace including the House of Lords and the House of Commons (see pictures below)  Thereafter a new palace was designed in gothic style, specifically to house Parliament.  Construction began in 1837, and was completed for the House of Lords in 1847 and the House of Commons in 1851 (see Picture of House of Commons below) . The Clock Tower (where Big Ben is located) was not finished until 1858, the year when John Snow died.  In 1860, after the Victorian Tower was roofed, the Palace of Westminster was again in existence (see figure).