The Day Parliament Burned Down by Caroline Shenton

360 pages, Hardcover
Condition: LIKE NEW: This book is almost as new, with no damage nor defects. There no markings, inscriptions or signatures of any kind, pages are clean and vibrant. 

When London Burned: The Forgotten Catastrophe of the Houses of Parliament
Imagine the unthinkable: In the early evening of October 16, 1834, a colossal ball of fire erupted through the roof of the Houses of Parliament, unleashing a blaze of such magnitude that it was visible from Windsor Castle to the South Downs. Before hundreds of thousands of horrified witnesses, this inferno consumed Parliament's ancient, glorious buildings and everything within them. It was a spectacle of destruction that would forever be etched in the memory of those who saw it.

A Nation Aflame, A Memory Erased
To contemporaries, the events of that October day were as shocking and significant as the death of Princess Diana was to a later generation. Yet, today, this national catastrophe is a largely forgotten disaster. The magnificent new Palace of Westminster, designed by Barry and Pugin, stands as a testament to renewal, but in doing so, it has, perhaps, inadvertently erased the 800-year memory of its predecessor.

Rumors swirled about the fire's origins: Was it arson? A terrorist act? The machinations of foreign agents? A simple kitchen accident? Careless builders? Or even divine judgment upon the politicians of the day?

Unveiling the Untold Story
In this groundbreaking, first full-length account, Caroline Shenton, Head Parliamentary Archivist, meticulously reconstructs the gripping story of the fire, unfolding the events hour by hour throughout that fateful day and night.

Through her expert narrative, Shenton paints a vivid portrait of the political and social landscape of the era. She delves into the stark realities of Westminster's slums, the frenzied expansion of the West End, the plight of the London Irish, and the pervasive issues of child labor, sinecures, and high-level corruption. Readers will also discover fascinating details about the rudimentary fire-fighting techniques of the time, including "floating engines," and the impact of pivotal legislation like the Great Reform Act and the new Poor Law. Shenton connects these threads to broader events, such as Captain Swing and the arson at York Minster, and exposes the perilous state of public buildings and records during the Georgian period. Above all, she illuminates the profound symbolism many contemporaries attached to the spectacular fall of such a national icon.

Prepare to witness a forgotten moment in history, brought brilliantly to life.