TIL_Sommer_21-7-17

20
Exhibit from Parliament and The First World War.
PLENTY TO SEE AT THE HOUSES OF
PARLIAMENT THIS SUMMER
Following the UK General Election,
the Houses of Parliament will continue
to welcome, engage and inspire visitors
this summer with a choice of guided
tours, self-guided audio tours and
family tours. During a tour, visitors will
have the opportunity to take a look around
the Commons Chamber and the Lords
Chamber; discover more about the work
of both Houses of Parliament; follow in
the footsteps of the Queen at the State
Opening; find out how and where to
'lobby' an MP; and visit the oldest
building, Westminster Hall.
A popular add-on is afternoon tea
served in a room which provides superb
views over the Thames.
Tickets can now be booked for tours
Monday to Friday between 24 July and
1 September (except 28 August) and
Tuesday to Friday between 15 September
and 6 October, plus every Saturday.
Bookings can be made online at
www.parliament.uk/visit, by calling
020 7219 4114 or in person from the
Ticket Office at the front of Portcullis
House on Victoria Embankment.
A new, free exhibition ‘Parliament and
the First World War’ in Westminster Hall
highlights stories of men and women
connected to Parliament, including
Members of both Houses, whose lives
were affected by the outbreak of war.
The exhibition includes a multi-touch
table enabling visitors to examine
documents, paintings and artefacts
chronicling the profound changes in
Parliament and parliamentary democracy
that occurred during the war years.
Visitors can also see a special light
projection featuring the names of 46
Parliamentarians and 26 Parliamentary
staff who lost their lives during service.
The display follows the progression
of the Defence of the Realm Act, which
swiftly altered the lives of those on the
‘Home Front’ including women, whose
careers dramatically changed as they
stepped into the roles traditionally
occupied by men.
PARKS: OUR SHARED HERITAGE
London’s Royal Parks have evolved
over the past 500 years from
monarchical deer hunting grounds to the
world famous parks we know and love
today, accessible to all and enjoyed by
millions from across the globe.
For the first time ever, London will
host an exhibition exploring this rich
history, with rarely seen artefacts
including oil paintings, photographs,
and historical documents spanning three
centuries. The exhibition will also look
at the history of Phoenix Park in Dublin,
which was formed in 1662 as Ireland’s
only royal deer park, and is today
managed by the Office of Public Works,
Ireland.
The Royal Parks have been free to
access by the general public for
decades, but this wasn’t always the case.
For example, when Richmond Park was
a private royal hunting ground, the
public were excluded for royal privacy
and safety.
Other key moments in the history of
the Royal Parks are explored, including
The Great Exhibition in 1851. Hosted by
Prince Albert, the exhibition of
innovation, industry and art attracted six
million visitors to Hyde Park and was
located in the Crystal Palace, a vast
structure of cast iron and glass covering
about 20 acres.
A fascinating insight is offered into
the parks’ connections with prominent
historical figures including the Royal
Family and Prime Ministers.
In 1851, the Royal Parks of London
became public parks with the
introduction of the Crown Lands Act.
Following this, the Royal Parks were
used extensively by Government to aid
the military effort in both World Wars of
the 20th century. This is showcased with
photos of soldiers performing drills with
rifles in the Serpentine Lake, and Hyde
Park being used as a salvage depot.
Parks: Our Shared Heritage will be on
view from 27 July to 11 August at the
Mall Galleries in The Mall, just off
Trafalgar Square.
t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g a z i n e • t h i s i s l o n d o n o n l i n e