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MARITIME GREENWICH

1721 1873 parliament.uk

The Greenwich Meridian Line is established. The buildings are repurposed as the Royal Naval College.

The Palace of Westminster is the most politically important site in the UK. It serves as the seat of government and is the meeting place for both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Construction of the current building began in 1840 and took 30 years to complete. After the Old Palace was destroyed by a fire, King William IV offered Parliament the use of Buckingham Palace but it was considered unsuitable and plans were put in place for a Gothic Revival replacement to sit on the same site and make use of reclaimed land to the south, on the banks of the Thames.

1840

Construction starts on the New Palace.

1860 1941 2025

The Elizabeth Tower (formerly the Victoria Tower, colloquially Big Ben) is completed.

The Commons Chamber is destroyed by bombing during the Blitz. An extensive six-year refurbishment of the Palace is due to start.