‘Got together in a riotous and tumultous manner’: Crowds and the Palace of Westminster, c.1700‐1800

The Palace of Westminster, with its heterogeneous and porous architecture, was found to be particularly vulnerable to crowd-related disturbances during the 18th century. The study highlights how the old palace's open spaces, including Westminster Hall, facilitated both public events like state trials and moments of high political tension such as the Wilkeite disturbances and Gordon Riots. It assesses the relative openness of this space and the measures taken to secure Parliament from internal and external pressures. By analyzing the topography of the palace, the research provides insights into how architectural design influenced its susceptibility to crowd dynamics and security challenges.

Eagles, R. (2020). ‘Got together in a riotous and tumultous manner’: Crowds and the Palace of Westminster, c.1700‐1800. Journal for Eighteenth-Century Studies, 43(3), 349–366. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/1754-0208.12688