# Palace of Westminster burns (1834)

URL: https://english-history.com/timeline/1834-palace-of-westminster-burns
Categories: main-event

A huge fire destroyed most of the old parliamentary complex. Within the broader Georgian Britain period, parliamentary government, industrialization, imperial expansion, war with France and political reform turned Britain into a global commercial and military power. This event is placed at 16 October 1834 in the chronology so it can be read alongside the political, military, social and cultural changes around it. The disaster led to the construction of the Gothic Revival Houses of Parliament familiar today.

## Why it matters
The disaster led to the construction of the Gothic Revival Houses of Parliament familiar today.

Ruler at the time: [William IV](https://english-history.com/rulers/william-iv)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — Palace of Westminster burns](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=Palace+of+Westminster+burns&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Palace of Westminster burns](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Palace+of+Westminster+burns)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of British history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_British_history_%281800%E2%80%931899%29)
- [The National Archives — empire and industry resources](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/)