File:Lords Chamber (landscape).jpg

Palace of Westminster

To illustrate the House of Lords chamber, one of the most important rooms in the Palace of Westminster and the highlight of its interior decorative scheme. The commentary accompanying the image describes the chamber itself, as well as its significance by virtue of its dual purpose as the meeting place of the upper house of the British Parliament and the venue where the monarch delivers the Royal Address (Queen's Speech), the centrepiece of the annual State Opening of Parliament. The image also serves to visually contrast this chamber with that of the House of Commons in terms of size, layout and general artistic effect.

There is no free equivalent of this image because, with the sole exception of Westminster Hall, photography is not allowed in the Palace of Westminster (as stated in the UK Parliament website).

House of Lords

To show the House of Lords chamber in its standard arrangement, thus illustrating the environment in which debates of the House take place. The image depicts the layout of the chamber, characterised by the presence of benches on three sides and the dominance of the royal throne and canopy. It also displays the chamber's lavish ornamentation, which underlines the (only nominal nowadays) superiority of the Lords over the Commons and the importance of the State Opening of Parliament as a royal and parliamentary ceremony.

There is no free equivalent of this image because, with the sole exception of Westminster Hall, photography is not allowed in the Palace of Westminster (as stated in the UK Parliament website).

Gothic Revival architecture

To illustrate the chamber of the House of Lords, an important specimen of Gothic Revival architecture and a signature work of A. W. N. Pugin, a leading exponent of the style.

There is no free equivalent of this image because, with the sole exception of Westminster Hall, photography is not allowed in the Palace of Westminster (as stated in the UK Parliament website).