On 16th October 1834, the Palace of Westminster suffered
the greatest disaster in its history, when it was engulfed by
a fire that rapidly ran out of control. Of the main
buildings, only Westminster Hall was saved, thanks to
the heroic efforts of the Fire Brigade, who poured water
on its roof to prevent the flames spreading.
The immediate cause of the fire was the over-use of old
accountant's tally sticks, which caused the flues of a furnace
near the House of Lords to overheat. In reality, however, so
many additions had been made to the Palace over the years that it had become a firetrap. No lives were lost (neither House was sitting at the time) but St Stephen's Chapel, home of the Commons, was burnt beyond repair.
