Lord Ronald Gower was born on this day in 1845. Gower was MP for Sutherland (1867-73) and a prominent figure in British LGBTQ+ history. Our colleague @martinspychal.bsky.social has explored his life and career over a series of articles. 🧵

Lord Ronald Gower (1845-1916): the life of a queer MP at the time of the Second Reform Act

Dr Martin Spychal introduces his series of articles on Lord Ronald Gower (1845-1916), who was elected as MP for Sutherland in 1867. This is the first of five

historyofparliament.com

Following last week's article on who could vote after the 1832 Reform Act, this week we're considering 'where' people voted. Our colleague @martinspychal.bsky.social discusses the impact of reform on England's electoral politics. @victoriancommons.bsky.social

Reappraising England’s reformed electoral map, 1832-1868: the impact of the 1832 Reform Act - The History of Parliament

As my book, Mapping the State, explores, and the History of Parliament’s 1832-1868 Commons project is discovering, it is the rich complexity of England’s

historyofparliament.com

Really brilliant @histparl.bsky.social research here 👇

Martin Spychal@martinspychal.bsky.social · 3w ago

Just 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

Just 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

The Speakership election of 1835 - The History of Parliament

In this article Dr Kathryn Rix and Dr Martin Spychal of our House of Commons, 1832-1868 project discuss a pivotal vote in the early nineteenth-century Commons

historyofparliament.com

Just 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

The Speakership election of 1835 - The History of Parliament

In this article Dr Kathryn Rix and Dr Martin Spychal of our House of Commons, 1832-1868 project discuss a pivotal vote in the early nineteenth-century Commons

historyofparliament.com

🚨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…

How does an MP resign? The Chiltern Hundreds & the Manor of Northstead - The History of Parliament

Have you just heard that an MP has resigned by ‘taking the Chiltern Hundreds’? Our Senior Research Fellow, Dr Martin Spychal, explains the practice and

historyofparliament.com

Here’s the latest article I contributed to in The Guardian, @theguardian.com concerning baptisms of the enslaved in England during the 18th and 19th centuries. www.theguardian.com/news/2026/ju... #MalikAlNasir #ChrisOsuh #Guardian #Slavery #Baptism #ManchesterCathederal #IndianaMundi #Enslavement

Baptism record at Manchester Cathedral offers insight into Black Mancunian life in Georgian-era England

A parish entry reveals an argument that proved pivotal to the abolitionist cause, at a time when an estimated 20,000 Black people were living in the country

theguardian.com

'...the book is a complete success, and it should become a staple of reading lists on international political-ideological interactions' Thanks to Alex Middleton for this generous & thoughtful review!

The English Historical Review@enghistrev.bsky.social · last mo.

Alex Middleton reviews 'The Paris Commune in Britain: Radicals, Refugees, and Revolutionaries after 1871', by Laura C. Forster @lauracforster.bsky.social academic.oup.com/ehr/advance-... @academic.oup.com

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

In 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...

Votes for women before and after 1832

The role of women in Victorian politics continues to be a significant theme in many of our Victorian Commons posts. Articles on this site by Jennifer Davey, Sarah Richardson, Kathryn Rix,…

victoriancommons.wordpress.com

And more #PublicDomain books I've got Google to release from 'snippet view': Maps and Plans in the Public Record Office: books.google.co.uk/books?id=zys... Sample Census 1966 books.google.co.uk/books?id=fyo... Consolidated list of Govt publications, 1925: books.google.co.uk/books?id=cyd...

Maps and Plans in the Public Record Office: British Isles, c. 1410-1860

books.google.co.uk

Tune in to Matt Chorley's show on BBC Radio 5 Live at 15:45 to hear our colleague @alfiesteer.bsky.social discuss political diaries! www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Radio 5 Live - Listen Live - BBC Sounds

Listen live to Radio 5 Live on BBC Sounds

bbc.co.uk

Professor Eloise Davies will be speaking at the next IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on 'the politics of Convocation in early Stuart England'. 📍 Online - Zoom 🗓️Tuesday 2 June 2026 ⏱️5:30-6:30pm Find out more about the paper and how to attend below:

Between Parliament and king: the politics of Convocation in early Stuart England - The History of Parliament

Professor Eloise Davies of the University of Florida, will be discussing the politics of convocation in early Stuart England.

historyofparliament.com

I was on BBC Radio Ulster Talkback today with @williamcrawley.bsky.social talking about "Belfastmen: An Intimate History of Life before Gay Liberation" - listen here from 12:47pm! www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Radio Ulster - Listen Live - BBC Sounds

Listen live to Radio Ulster on BBC Sounds

bbc.co.uk

ICYMI: Join us tomorrow from 5:30pm, in person at the IHR or online to hear @amdharrington.bsky.social discuss her PhD research in a paper titled: ‘Empire’s Imagined Spaces: Time, Connection, and the Making of British Imperial Identities, 1757-1840’ Register 👎 www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

Empire’s Imagined Spaces: Time, Connection, and the Making of British Imperial Identities, 1757-1840

British History in the Long 18th Century Seminar

history.ac.uk

With the upcoming Makerfield by-election sure to grab headlines, our colleague @martinspychal.bsky.social appeared on last Friday's Today in Parliament to discuss the process in which MPs can effectively resign their seat - by taking the Chiltern Hundreds. Listen from 14:39:

Victorian Commons@victoriancommons.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Posting this again for the post-Bank Holiday traffic - listen here (from about 14:39) to hear our research fellow @martinspychal.bsky.social on taking the Chiltern Hundreds: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

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 ago

Our 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...

Our 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...

BBC Radio 4 - Today in Parliament, 22/05/2026

Sean Curran reports as rank-and-file MPs get the chance to bring in their own laws.

bbc.co.uk

After 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

Four prorogations and a conflagration: Parliament and its buildings in 1834

Dr Kathryn Rix of our House of Commons 1832-1945 project looks at the makeshift arrangements made for the prorogation in the aftermath of the devastating Westminster fire of October 1834.

historyofparliament.com

200 years ago the handloom weavers of Lancashire and the West Riding of Yorkshire engaged in a 10-day rising, destroying over 1,100 power looms. To learn more check out our interactive StoryMap: storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/9a84... #19thCentury #skystorians @sslh.bsky.social @esriuk.bsky.social

Witnessing the Weavers’ Rising of 1826

A digital mapping project created by The National Archives and The Open University

storymaps.arcgis.com

Dr Jeremy Crump will be speaking at the next IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on 'Parliamentary politics in the London boroughs, 1832-68'. 📍 Senate House, London / Online 🗓️Tuesday 19 May 2026 ⏱️5:30-6:30pm Find out more about the paper and how to attend below:

Parliamentary politics in the London boroughs, 1832-68

Dr Jeremy Crump of the Institute of Historical Research will be discussing parliamentary politics in the London boroughs between 1832 and 1868.

historyofparliament.com

Episode 3: 'In this extended third article in his series on Peter McLagan, MP for Linlithgowshire 1865-1893, Dr Martin Spychal explores the life of ‘Philly’ or ‘Filly’. Philly was enslaved at the domestic residence of McLagan’s father in Demerara (modern-day Guyana) at the time of McLagan’s birth.'

‘Philly’ or ‘Filly’ (c.1790-unknown): mother and enslaved domestic worker of Barbados and Guyana - The History of Parliament

In this extended third article in his series on Peter McLagan, MP for Linlithgowshire 1865-1893, Dr Martin Spychal explores the life of ‘Philly’ or ‘Filly’.

historyofparliament.com

It 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/...

Matt Chorley's Urgent Questions - Can Trump serve a third term? - BBC Sounds

Plus… is smoking bad for your political health?

bbc.co.uk

A great paper yesterday from @brendantam.bsky.social - best of luck Brendan with the final stages of the PhD!

Victorian Commons@victoriancommons.bsky.social · 3mo ago

This ties in well with the theme of the first Parliaments, Politics and People seminar of summer term. @brendantam.bsky.social will be speaking about political sociability in late Hanoverian Britain. Find out here how to join in person or online on Tues 5 May: historyofparliament.com/2026/04/29/t...

I am grateful for the opportunity to present a portion of the political sociability chapter of my PhD (which I am currently reworking). Come along/tune in to hear my thoughts on the dynamics of political sociability and the rhetoric of political friendship in the late Hanoverian period.

History of Parliament@histparl.bsky.social · 3mo ago

@brendantam.bsky.social will be presenting the next Parliaments, Politics and People seminar, on Tuesday 5 May. Read about Brendan's paper discussing political sociability in late Hanoverian Britain on our website, alongside information on how to join the session:

Did you catch a collection of clips from our oral history archive on Radio 4 this morning? Listen back to 'Yesterday in Parliament' to hear @emmapeplow.bsky.social discuss Westminster drinking culture in the late 20th c., through the voices of some of the MPs who were there. [Listen from 19:00]

BBC Radio 4 - Yesterday in Parliament, 30/04/2026

News, views and features on today's stories in Parliament

bbc.co.uk

‘Philly’ or ’Filly’ was enslaved in Guyana by the father of Peter McLagan, Scotland’s first Black MP. @martinspychal.bsky.social explores Philly’s life in Barbados and Guyana before, and after, the abolition of slavery, and considers whether Philly could have been Peter McLagan's mother.

‘Philly’ or ‘Filly’ (c.1790-unknown): mother and enslaved domestic worker of Barbados and Guyana - The History of Parliament

In this extended third article in his series on Peter McLagan, MP for Linlithgowshire 1865-1893, Dr Martin Spychal explores the life of ‘Philly’ or ‘Filly’.

historyofparliament.com

Continuing his series on Scotland's first Black MP, Peter McLagan, @martinspychal.bsky.social explores the life of 'Philly'/'Filly', who was enslaved in Guyana by McLagan's father at the time of McLagan's birth. victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2026/04/30/p...

‘Philly’ or ‘Filly’ (c.1790-unknown): mother and enslaved domestic worker of Barbados and Guyana

In this extended third article in his series on Peter McLagan, MP for Linlithgowshire 1865-1893, Dr Martin Spychal explores the life of ‘Philly’ or ‘Filly’. Philly was enslaved at the domestic resi…

victoriancommons.wordpress.com

This ties in well with the theme of the first Parliaments, Politics and People seminar of summer term. @brendantam.bsky.social will be speaking about political sociability in late Hanoverian Britain. Find out here how to join in person or online on Tues 5 May: historyofparliament.com/2026/04/29/t...

The role of political sociability in establishing and maintaining political friendship and alliances in late-Hanoverian Britain, 1760-1837 - The History of Parliament

At the IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on Tuesday 5 May, BrendanTam of the University of Warwick, will be discussing political sociability and

historyofparliament.com

History of Parliament@histparl.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Following recent debates about drinking in Parliament, @emmapeplow.bsky.social has delved into the oral history archive to find out what former MPs thought of Westminster's drinking culture, and how it has changed since the 1960s. historyofparliament.com/2026/04/28/d...

Following recent debates about drinking in Parliament, @emmapeplow.bsky.social has delved into the oral history archive to find out what former MPs thought of Westminster's drinking culture, and how it has changed since the 1960s. historyofparliament.com/2026/04/28/d...

‘You could drink to your heart’s content’: Drinking in Parliament, a hangover from the 1970s? - The History of Parliament

In a recent interview, the newly elected MP for Gorton and Denton, Hannah Spencer, has criticised fellow-MPs drinking whilst in Westminster. For Emma Peplow,

historyofparliament.com