Dr Kathryn Rix
@kathrynrix.bsky.social
Co-editor of the History of Parliament's House of Commons, 1832-1945 project. Cambridge/London.
Are you an early career researcher with an interest in parliamentary history? We are inviting submissions of 10,000 words, including references, for our annual essay prize, worth £500. The deadline is 30 Nov. 2026. More details here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1750...
Parliamentary History
Click on the title to browse this journal
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
A very interesting read from my @histparl.bsky.social colleague.
Victorian Commons@victoriancommons.bsky.social · last wk.Our new article today from our editor Dr Philip Salmon looks at the Speakership elections of 1839 and 1841, shedding new light on party politics in this period: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2026/09/10/t...
The Clangers, Bagpuss and Parliament. Who knew!
History of Parliament@histparl.bsky.social · last wk.2026 is the 50th anniversary of the colour reissue of the children’s classic, Ivor the Engine, created by Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin. To mark this, Dr Robin Eagles explores the little known political connections of the Postgate family, as well as the politics of The Clangers and Bagpuss.
I went down so many enjoyable rabbit holes for this. The New Yorker cartoon is incredible.
History of Parliament@histparl.bsky.social · last wk.🚨New Substack🚨 For the first time in 1000 years, the Bayeux Tapestry is on display in Britain. To mark the occasion, @jhdavey.bsky.social has explored the tapestry's connections to Britain's parliamentary history...
I reviewed volume 1 of this for Parliamentary History - great to see volume 2 is now out and also available open access.
Andrew Hobbs@drewhobbs.bsky.social · 3w agoDoing the footnotes for the Hewitson diaries was a warren of rabbit-holes, here are some favourites. www.openbookpublishers.com/books/10.116... @openbookpublish.bsky.social
This 2,300 year-old owl with oversized eyes has a cute cartoon-like charm! 🦉❤️ Marble relief from the slopes of the Athenian acropolis. Acropolis Museum, Athens 📷 by me #ReliefWednesday #Archaeology
Reminded today of what a great resource @artukdotorg.bsky.social is. This (with image credit to the Hull Maritime Museum) is the steamship Transit, which transported Mrs Ann Webster from Hull to London in 1838 to give evidence in the House of Commons on the Hull election petition.
What did the Victorian House of Commons chamber look like? Dr Kathryn Rix has explored chamber that was in use until the Westminster fire of 1834. @victoriancommons.bsky.social
‘Like herrings in a barrel’: the House of Commons chamber prior to 1834 - The History of Parliament
Dr Kathryn Rix looks at the House of Commons chamber in use until the fire of 1834.
historyofparliament.com
On this day the 1883 Corrupt Practices Act received royal assent. In a series of articles, our colleague @kathrynrix.bsky.social has explored the motivations, impact and consequences of this landmark reform designed to tackle prominent corruption in 19th century parliamentary contests. (1/4) 🧵
@kathrynrix.bsky.social & I recently received a lovely email from Peter Sargant, an independent researcher & collector, about our recent article on the 1835 Speakership election. Peter shared this letter from his collection, which was sent from the Commons to Dunfermline straight after the vote 1/5
The freedom-by-marriage franchise was one of the most striking voting qualifications prior to the 1832 Reform Act. Dr Philip Salmon explores how although women may not have been able to vote, some had the ability to enfranchise their husbands. @victoriancommons.bsky.social
Marrying for the vote: the freedom-by-marriage franchise before 1832
Of all the bizarre voting qualifications in operation before 1832 – from potwallopers to burgage holders – one of the most striking was the
historyofparliament.com
Very interesting read from my brilliant colleague @emmapeplow.bsky.social.
History of Parliament@histparl.bsky.social · 4w ago🚨New Article🚨 Our oral history project recently interviewed Neil Hamilton, former Conservative MP for Tatton, whose battle with Martin Bell was one of the highlights of the 1997 General Election. Drawing on interviews with both candidates, @emmapeplow.bsky.social tells the story in their own words.
I reviewed Sarah Williams' book on Josephine Butler - one of the most extraordinary women in modern British history, who should be *much* better known. It's "both a biography of a remarkable woman and an argument about how to write the history of Victorian Britain". academic.oup.com/ehr/advance-...
🚨New Substack🚨 Westminster Hall is currently hosting an exhibition to commemorate the Lying-in-State of Queen Elizabeth II. @jhdavey.bsky.social has written about the art on display, and the wider history of Lying-in-State in Westminster.
Lying-in-State in Westminster
This summer, Westminster Hall is home to “A Historic Farewell: Elizabeth II’s Lying-in-State”, an exhibition showcasing the new artworks commissioned by Parliament to commemorate the Lying-in-State of...
historyofparliament.substack.com
We don't have a brilliant copy of this sketch by St Albans based artist John Henry Buckingham (1800-1881) but look closely and you'll see a group of people looking at an eclipse using a variety of different methods - not all recommended by modern science!
Today I learned from my colleague's fascinating piece that lawn tennis might have been named Sphairistike!
Victorian Commons@victoriancommons.bsky.social · last mo.In our latest post Dr Naomi Lloyd-Jones looks at whether Disraeli's chief whip, Sir William Hart Dyke, had a claim to be the inventor of lawn tennis: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2026/08/13/s...
This is a fascinating read from our #HistParl director @jhdavey.bsky.social - I had never heard of the pioneering Nancy Bailey before: historyofparliament.substack.com/p/nancy-bail...
Nancy Bailey: Hansard's first indexer
A few weeks ago, I wrote a short newsletter about Hansard to mark the digital release of all the volumes from 1809 on https://hansard.parliament.uk. I was also invited onto Matt Chorley’s show on BBC ...
historyofparliament.substack.com
#OnThisDay 1834 the Radical MP Joseph Hume argued that a new House of Commons should be built, complaining of over-crowding and the ‘pestilential air’. Find out more about the old House of Commons in our article: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2021/01/25/l...
‘Like herrings in a barrel’: the chamber of the House of Commons prior to 1834
In this new series of blogs on the Palace of Westminster, we look at the three different debating chambers occupied by the MPs who sat in Parliament between 1832 and 1868, beginning with the Common…
victoriancommons.wordpress.com
I dimly remember the Quaker tithe bill from A-Level days, so I look forward to reminding myself why it was so important. Well done to @brogers1721.bsky.social on his first post for @histparl.bsky.social !
History of Parliament@histparl.bsky.social · last mo.🚨New Article🚨 For his first post for the History of Parliament, our newest colleague @brogers1721.bsky.social has explored the 1736 Quakers Tithe Bill, and how its failure saw Robert Walpole refer to the bishop of London a 'ringleader of sedition'.
Excellent and forensic @victoriancommons.bsky.social blog on the Speakership election of 1835 victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2026/07/29/s...
The Speakership election of 1835
In this article Dr Kathryn Rix and Dr Martin Spychal discuss a pivotal vote in the early nineteenth-century Commons – the selection of the Speaker in February 1835. They explore popular reaction to…
victoriancommons.wordpress.com
Our latest blog, looking at the Speakership election of 1835 - a pivotal vote for the development of the Liberal party - is now available on our Victorian Commons site: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2026/07/29/s...
The Speakership election of 1835
In this article Dr Kathryn Rix and Dr Martin Spychal discuss a pivotal vote in the early nineteenth-century Commons – the selection of the Speaker in February 1835. They explore popular reaction to…
victoriancommons.wordpress.com
I really enjoyed writing this with Martin, who has provided a great summary of our piece. Discovering Ellen Manners Sutton's remodeling of the Commons chamber was a particular highlight for me!
Martin Spychal@martinspychal.bsky.social · 2mo agoJust published this co-authored article with my brilliant colleague @kathrynrix.bsky.social on the controversial 1835 election of the Commons Speaker! @histparl.bsky.social @victoriancommons.bsky.social historyofparliament.com/2026/07/17/s... 1/4
Great explainer article from our colleague @martinspychal.bsky.social on the history of 'taking the Chiltern Hundreds'.
History of Parliament@histparl.bsky.social · 2mo ago🚨New article 🚨 Have you just heard that an MP has resigned by ‘taking the Chiltern Hundreds’? Our Senior Research Fellow, @martinspychal.bsky.social, explains the practice and explores its historical context…
What with the opening of Cambridge South train station on Sunday, here's the opening of Cambridge station back in 1845, taken from the Illustrated London News. Things have changed a bit since then but the main station building doesn't look that different.
I think the analysis of politicians' clothing choices is a fascinating topic - have been thinking about this recently in relation to early women MPs.
Victorian Commons@victoriancommons.bsky.social · 3mo agoOn another hot day, we are glad not to be subject to the same sartorial standards as the 19th century Manchester MP Thomas Bazley. The fact that he took off his jacket when giving election speeches in an unpleasantly warm room in 1868 was felt worthy of mentioning in his obituary 17 years later!
Hansard - the official record of what is said in Parliament - originated in the early 19th century. Consequently, it is a valuable resource for our colleagues @victoriancommons.bsky.social, who have put together a research guide for those wanting to access Hansard online.
Accessing Hansard online: a research guide
Hansard - the official record of what is said in Parliament - originated in the early 19th century. Our Commons 1832-68 project team have previously written
historyofparliament.com
Delighted to read this article featuring the research of my brilliant colleague Dr Robin Eagles.
The Georgian Lords@georgianlords.bsky.social · 3mo agoExcited to see research coming out of the Georgian Lords featured in an article in the @theguardian.com this morning, covering the 300th anniversary of St Martin-in-the-Fields: #HistParl www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
My British Prime Ministers ruler becomes ever more out of date...
