Speaker's House, Official apartment in Palace of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
Speaker's House is an official residence within the Palace of Westminster containing sixty to seventy rooms laid out in a parallelogram arrangement. The residence occupies a distinct section of the larger parliamentary complex.
After the Parliament fire of 1834, architect Charles Barry incorporated this residence into the Palace of Westminster's reconstruction and finished it in 1857. It became part of the broader neo-Gothic building project that reshaped the entire complex.
The State Dining Room displays a dark grey marble fireplace and ceiling decorations showing the coats of arms from different parliamentary chambers throughout British history.
The residence connects directly to the House of Commons chamber through the Speakers' Corridor, allowing quick movement during parliamentary sessions. This direct link is essential for the daily rhythm of parliamentary work.
Each morning when Parliament convenes, the Speaker leads a formal procession from the residence to the House of Commons chamber. This ceremonial walk marks the official start of daily proceedings and follows centuries-old protocol.
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