Dr Kathryn Rix
@kathrynrix.bsky.social
Assistant Editor of the History of Parliament's House of Commons, 1832-1945 project. Cambridge/London.
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 · 3w 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 · 4w 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 · last mo.On 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 · last mo.Excited 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...
Come & hear about @histparl.bsky.social's Oral History of Parliament on 24 June @19:00. With clips from David Blunkett, Malcolm Rifkind, Gisela Stuart & others,the session explores who makes it to Westminster, how Parliament has changed & who challenged its ways www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/westminste...
Westminster as told to the History of Parliament’s Oral History Project
‘A mix between arcane procedure and schoolboy-ish behaviour’? Westminster as told to the History of Parliament’s Oral History Project
eventbrite.co.uk
My article on constituency agents 1880-1914 is among these free to access pieces.
History of Parliament@histparl.bsky.social · 2mo agoOur colleague Dr Naomi Lloyd-Jones has edited a special issue of the @parlhistjournal.bsky.social, which is free to read until the end of June. Find out more about the issue and how to access pieces written by current and former @victoriancommons.bsky.social colleagues below.
A brilliant piece here from my colleague Philip on the long history of women's involvement with parliamentary elections.
Victorian Commons@victoriancommons.bsky.social · 2mo agoIn a new article for @histparl.bsky.social our editor Dr Philip Salmon explores when and how some women could vote, long before they acquired the parliamentary franchise in 1918: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2026/06/17/v...
This looks great and is definitely going on my wish list!
Elizabeth Crawford@womanssphere.bsky.social · 2mo agoYOU CAN NOW TAKE A LOOK INSIDE – The British Women’s Suffrage Movement in 100 Objects: a material history – FORTHCOMING 23 JULY TO BE PUBLISHED ON 23 JULY - IN PAPERBACK (£24.99), HARDBACK AND AS AN EBOOK You can pre-order from Bloomsbury at a reduced price here - or from Amazon here - or place an…
Spotted this morning - I did not know this about the D-Day landings!
Dr Juliette Bretan will be speaking at the next week's IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on 'Interwar literature, politics and East-central Europe.' 📍 Senate House, London / Online 🗓️Tuesday 16 June 2026 ⏱️5:30-6:30pm Find out more about the paper and how to attend below:
Interwar literature, politics and East-central Europe - The History of Parliament
At the IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on Tuesday 16 June, Dr Juliette Bretan of Cambridge University will be discussing literary depictions of,
historyofparliament.com
A job in modern British History. At Manchester. www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
Lecturer in Modern British History (post-1800):Oxford Road
jobs.manchester.ac.uk
We've just been catching up on @histparl.bsky.social 's director @jhdavey.bsky.social talking about the history of Hansard. For more on the history of parliamentary reporting in the 19th century, see victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2017/11/17/r...
Reporting Parliament: a view from the Victorian Commons
Today we take it for granted that parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. In the Victorian era, however, there was no ‘official’ record. In this blog to end Parliament Week, Dr P…
victoriancommons.wordpress.com
Jennifer Davey@jhdavey.bsky.social · 2mo agoReally enjoyed talking to @mattchorley.bsky.social yesterday about all things Hansard. You can listen here (roughly 1hr8mins in) www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
While our director @jhdavey.bsky.social is away, Scribble Book is hosting guest posts from members of the History of Parliament Trust's research staff. First up is @kathrynrix.bsky.social x.bsky.social, assistant editor of HPT's House of Commons, 1832-1945 project. 👇
Get to Know Us: Dr Kathryn Rix
A guest article from the History of Parliament Trust's research staff
historyofparliament.substack.com
Today marks the 160th anniversary of the first mass petition for women's suffrage. Below, Dr Kathryn Rix has explored the debate around this petition and its place in the campaign to secure the parliamentary vote for women. @victoriancommons.bsky.social
‘The first humble beginnings of an agitation’: the women’s suffrage petition of 7 June 1866
A. Dingsdale, '"Generous and lofty sympathies": the Kensington Society, the 1866 women's suffrage petition and the development of mid-Victorian feminism'
historyofparliament.com
If you missed @martinspychal.bsky.social yesterday, this catch-up link is now live, with Martin's segment explaining the oddities of the Chiltern Hundreds starting at around 14:39.
Victorian Commons@victoriancommons.bsky.social · 3mo agoOur senior research fellow @martinspychal.bsky.social will be featuring on Today in Parliament at 11:30 p.m. on BBC Radio 4, talking about why MPs 'take the Chiltern Hundreds' to resign from the Commons. It will be available on catch up here: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
My piece here on makeshift arrangements for the prorogations which took place after the Oct 1834 fire at Westminster. Featuring lost wigs, the Lord Chancellor finding his way through the still smouldering ruins of the old Palace and a chair borrowed from St James's Palace being used as the throne.
History of Parliament@histparl.bsky.social · 3mo agoAfter the recent prorogation and subsequent State Opening of Parliament, Dr Kathryn Rix takes us back to 1834, where four prorogations took place in the same year! However, as she explores, not all these prorogations happened in the same place: @victoriancommons.bsky.social
John Stuart Mill, influential philosopher and Liberal MP for Westminster, 1865-1868 was born 220 years ago today. In 1866, Mill presented the first mass petition to the Commons in favour of women's suffrage, as @kathrynrix.bsky.social explores below.
‘The first humble beginnings of an agitation’: the women’s suffrage petition of 7 June 1866 - The History of Parliament
A. Dingsdale, '"Generous and lofty sympathies": the Kensington Society, the 1866 women's suffrage petition and the development of mid-Victorian feminism'
historyofparliament.com
Lots of lovely snippets here from @jhdavey.bsky.social
History of Parliament@histparl.bsky.social · 3mo agoThe start of the Chelsea Flower Show this week (and the weekend's forecast sunshine!) has got our director @jhdavey.bsky.social thinking about the parliamentary history of gardening... Read all about it in our latest 'Scribble Book' post, over on Substack:
#Skyhistorians ££££ for MA and PhD students and ECRs working on women's and gender history. Spread the word (repost: liking is nice, but it won't reach an audience beyond yourself).
Women's History Scotland@womenshistscot.bsky.social · 3mo ago⏰️ Still time to apply for our £500 research bursary! It is open to masters students, doctoral researchers, ECRs, and independent historians who research women’s and gender history, particularly for those working on Scottish themes. 🗓 Deadline 31st May 🔗 womenshistoryscotland.org/projects-and...
On 21 May 1807 the electors of #Somerset went to the polls for the first time in almost 100 years, the last contested election having taken place in February 1715. They celebrated the occasion by re-electing the sitting MPs: William Dickinson and Thomas Buckler Lethbridge... #SomersetDay #HistParl
Fantastic image of the 1845 Cambridge by-election - note in particular the presence of women.
Mary Burgess@cambliblife.bsky.social · 3mo agoDon't forget to go out and vote today - here's an election hustings from 1845 on Parker's Piece here in Cambridge.
Here's my brilliant colleague @emmapeplow.bsky.social proving again why our oral history interviews are such a great resource.
Emma Peplow@emmapeplow.bsky.social · 3mo agoIt was lovely to speak to Matt Chorley again yesterday about politicians smoking (really do need to find a media outlet that will let me say how hard working MPs all are or something!) And great to make it on to his podcast! It's here about 23minutes in: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Very amusing. Reminds me of a school report I once had which said 'Handwriting needs more care', except that the word care was undecipherable. Not that I'm still bitter about it...
Hartley Special Collections@hartleyspecialc.bsky.social · 3mo agoAnyone want a stab at reading this docket which the Duke of Wellington wrote on the back of a file copy of a letter he sent in 1840? #EYAHandwriting #WellingtonWednesday @exploreyourarchive.bsky.social
