Table of contents:
- The history of the secret corridor
- How was he found
- Lightbulb and graffiti from the century before last
Video: An old secret passage, as in the tale of Pinocchio, was found in the British Parliament
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
In the British Parliament, during the renovation work, a secret passage was discovered, which was built in the 17th century. Like in the fairy tale "The Golden Key", the keyhole leading to the secret room was disguised for many years and remained unnoticed. This secret corridor of Westminster Palace is practically the embodiment of the popular expression "political behind the scenes".
The history of the secret corridor
The tunnel was built in the House of Commons almost four hundred years ago, right after Charles II became king. It was created specifically for the passage of the official procession: the monarch and his subjects had to pass this corridor from the First House of Commons to Westminster Hall (the oldest parliament building) for a coronation banquet. In subsequent years, this corridor served as the main entrance to the House of Commons for Members of Parliament.
According to the Parliament's website, over the following years, the secret passage could have been used by great politicians such as Samuel Pipps (the author of the famous diary describing the life of Londoners during the Stuart Restoration), the first British Prime Minister Robert Walpole, as well as sworn rivals Charles James Fox. and William Pitt Jr. It is also believed that this tunnel was used by the great American Benjamin Franklin.
For a long time, no one really remembered this tonnee, although there is a copper plate in the palace informing about the corridor that once existed. Modern experts and historians certainly knew about the royal tunnel, but many of them thought that the secret passage was irretrievably walled up during the Second World War or immediately after it. No one in parliament had any idea where the secret door was and where exactly the corridor itself was. But it turns out that the doorway all this time existed under almost everyone's nose …
How was he found
The move was discovered by accident - thanks to extensive renovation work currently underway in Westminster. As part of this project, a group of specialists from the Historical Archives of England in Swindon, studying tens of thousands of old documents, discovered many previously unknown details, including information about the presence of a secret passage. Plans showed that in 1950, another door had been installed in the wood paneling of the wall between the hall and the adjacent room - in one of the decorative panels. It is so small that from the side it looked like a kitchen cabinet door! The door went unnoticed for 70 years until expert Dr. Liz Hallam Smith stumbled upon plans in Swindon.
A trip to Westminster confirmed the find. “When we looked closely at the panel, we realized that there was a tiny copper keyhole that no one had noticed before,” said the researcher.
As soon as the locksmith coped with the difficult task of opening what everyone thought was a closet, a small stone room turned out to be inside. And in it is a walled door.
Lightbulb and graffiti from the century before last
On the far wall inside the room, at a height of 3.5 meters, there were original door hinges. Analysis of the wooden beams confirmed the age of the room: experts found that the trees from which they were made were cut down in 1659. This is completely suitable for the above period, because the coronation of Charles II took place in 1660. By the way, this find contradicts what is written on the copper plate: the “wrong” king, Charles I, was indicated there.
But the startling discoveries did not end there. A light bulb was found in a secret room at the entrance (a switch was connected to it). According to the labeling, it was issued by Osram, in addition, there is a mark on the glass that it is the property of Her Majesty's government. It's amazing, but it turns out that the light bulb is still working!
Moreover, ancient inscriptions were found on the wall. Modern scientists have found that the "autographs" were left in the 1850s by stonemasons who bricked the door to the tunnel. One of the workers wrote that his name is Tom Porter and he is a big fan of dark ales. Also, the men did not forget to mention that they are "real democrats." The same names are recorded in the 1851 census forms. The historic graffiti of the workers has somehow remained untouched in some incredible way.
“It's incredible that the inscriptions are so easy to read, because they are made with a regular pencil,” historian Mark Collins comments on the find on the Parliament website.
The secret corridor is a reason to conduct a lot of historical research and find out who else and when used it in past centuries.
“I am so proud of our staff for making this discovery. This space is part of our parliamentary history,”said Sir Lindsay Hoyle, a British politician, Speaker of the United Kingdom House of Commons.
He noted that restoration work in the future may reveal other secrets of the palace. He also added that after the completion of the renovation, it is possible to consider making the secret corridor accessible to visitors to the parliament building.
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