Westminster Palace: One Thousand Years of History

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[@megaprojects9649]

Check out Squarespace: squarespace.com/megaprojects for 10% off on your first purchase.

[@lodewijk1036]

How is this comment written one week ago when the video was uploaded a few minutes ago? O.o

[@tototakto4611]

Megaprojects idea: The floating airport of Kansai

[@Direkin]

@@lodewijk1036 Probably uploaded a week ago and released a few minutes ago? Not sure why he would hold on to the video for that long though. Plus also he doesn't have a members only preview... does he? Fucked if I know; I'm not even subscribed XD Alternatively it could just be KZbin being KZbin.

[@thetruthwillout9094]

It would be so much better if you replaced dollars with pounds. You're British, your video is about a British institution so costs should be in British pounds not dollars.

[@barrydysert2974]

me 1:00 in: Technically, Big Ben now lives in The Elizabeth Tower since twenty something i believe Fact Boi. 😽🖖 me 10:00 in: Okay, Team Whistler got it right, but Simon hit it so fast Fact Boi will never remember!:-)😂💜

[@thcdreams654]

Megaprojects idea - Simon's 200 KZbin channels.

[@jgibson7321]

How is that possible? Is AI really this good?

[@paulreiter167]

200 did he stop some, lol bbogl

[@wasimshaikh1665]

Another idea: Simon's 200 personalities.

[@Year2047]

Lol yeah 😂

[@joshuaperry8729]

Simon's beard

[@xKrispyx]

"Big Ben isn't what you officially name anything" - Boaty McBoatface has entered the chat

[@megaprojects9649]

Boaty is a legend.

[@adastra3280]

its sad that they didn't name the boat that :(

[@Demostravius]

@@adastra3280 To be fair it's hard to argue the RSS David Attenborough isn't a superb name.

[@adastra3280]

@@Demostravius true

[@kahnadah]

@@megaprojects9649 Boaty is why we can't have nice things.

[@hanzup4117]

Brb, I'm making a cup of tea. I need to do this right.

[@JimBob-vb8oz]

Have a shit too. Get right in the mood with no distractions

[@Bearak_]

Simon and/or his writer have done it again - at 6:21 "Pugen was placed in Bedlam Asylum near the end of his life, passing away in 1952...Barry would follow just eight years later in 1860". Just a small discrepancy of 92 years.

[@tomx641]

Yeah I spotted that as well, I'm surprised he didn't question that :)

[@Bearak_]

@@tomx641 I'm fairly certain that, despite his frequent side commentary, he just reads the script and doesn't pay all that much attention.

[@roberthudson1959]

@@Bearak_ Paying attention is part of his job description.

[@Bearak_]

@@roberthudson1959 Oh, clearly.

[@brandonchan4537]

maybe he said wrong, i search and it was 1852 .So probably a slip on the mouth and said 1952 lol. I am being serious ,so if this is a joke ....Throw me off the cliff please.

[@DarkDeath-yg7nv]

about 5 or 6 years ago, i took a son to london, during which we visited the palace and had the guided tour. went into house of commons and lords, and into several chambers and corridors an amazing place to see democracy in work

[@kathyastrom1315]

If anyone is in/visiting London and looking for a different museum experience, check out Sir John Soane’s house. I had forgotten he was the architect of the earlier Palace, so was surprised to see him mentioned here. His house is a wonderful building crammed full of his collection of plaster reproductions of statuary, an actual Egyptian sarcophagus, pieces of architectural wonders, and a nice collection of art, especially Hogarth’s The Rake’s Progress. I found it a charming way to spend an hour or so a few blocks from the British Museum.

[@aryaramsgate3612]

i visited about 4 years ago. amazing place!

[@skyden24195]

Fyi: the company that manufactured the bell, "Big Ben," also manufactured the "Liberty Bell" of the United States. The Liberty Bell also cracked. --I don't think I'd be going to that bell maker anymore.

[@paulqueripel3493]

I know you were joking, but they closed 4 years ago. Whitechapel bell foundry, 1570-2017

[@skyden24195]

@@paulqueripel3493 that's pretty impressive. As well, I'm sure the company was held in high regard, they wouldn't have been hired otherwise. It really is bizarre that those particular bells would end up cracking. Odd.

[@chases.7252]

@@skyden24195 iirc, most bells that are used frequently do eventually crack. It's not a manufacturing error so much as it's a consequence of the stress a bell puts up with.

[@skyden24195]

@@chases.7252 makes sense. I find funny though, when Big Ben cracked, Brits were like, "It has a charming new ring to it." When the Liberty Bell cracked, Americans were like "F*ck it. Take it out, put it on a pedestal, and we'll just look at it."

[@isilder]

Its because at the time they didnt understand the alloy well. when they melt so much brass, it takes a long time, the surface of melted metal has a long time to oxidise. the zinc oxidises faster,and joins the slag layer as zinc oxide. So the metal became weaker due to loss of zinc. This is why the large bells always sufferred...

[@AddictedToC64]

Seriously - if someone would have told me a year ago that there will come a day when I check KZbin to see if *one guy* has uploaded a new video about some random stuff that could help enhance my general knowledge, I'd have laughed it off. Now, I log on saying "Let's see what Simon uploaded today". Geez. But then again: With those videos, I don't care how long the pandemic keeps going. Thanks, Simon (and your team, ofc!)

[@megaprojects9649]

Legend. Thank you :)

[@KH-sd8kr]

If you like videos about random stuff that increases you general knowledge, you should also check The History Guy. He is not as prolific as Simon, but very interesting and entertaining.

[@nukemanmd]

It is such an iconic building. When I visited London for the first time, it gave me the chills when I thought of all of the historical events that occurred therein. What a magnificent building.

[@parkpunk2]

"So I built a third one. That burned down, fell over then sank into the swamp".

[@CardinalBiggles01]

All the other kings said you were mad to build it on a swamp

[@malvar3665]

"Its called The Palace of Westminster" Still uses Westminster Palace on title of the video Respect

[@megaprojects9649]

It's how I know it. And I think how most British people know it.

[@Couldnt_let_J.Marston_die]

Not just most British people.

[@sarahlouise7163]

i have never heard it called that, and neither have 99% of us 🤣

[@sarahlouise7163]

google “named it that” BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT IT’S CALLED 🤣

[@jwadaow]

@@megaprojects9649 I have only ever heard it called correctly which is the Palace of Westminster. Westminster Palace sounds like a royal residence.

[@AnchorJG]

I'm dyslexic enough that seeing "Cnut the Great" made me double-take.

[@jdb47games]

Yawn. I knew some far King Cnut would say something like that.

[@AnchorJG]

@@jdb47games It aslo deson't hlep taht as lnog as the fsrit and lsat lteters are in pclae you can sltil raed a wrod.

[@chrisjack7857]

Same

[@eddiejc1]

Although Cnut invaded and conquered Britain earlier than another guy from France, he left a better impression on the English. There's a reason why the ENGLISH referred to him as Cnut the Great while William was just "the Conqueror." Sadly, Cnut is best remembered for the wrongly-told story about him ordering the tides at the beaches. Cnut knew very well that the ocean wouldn't obey his commands, but used this to publicly humiliate his yes-men courtier and demonstrate his Christian piety to his English subjects. Properly told, the "throne on the beach" story is a successful political stage management along the lines of George W. Bush personally landing a fighter jet on an aircraft carrier to announce the end of the Second Persian Gulf War.

[@sonophos9884]

The Palace of Westminster is in the City of Westminster which is next to the City of London in London City part of Greater London.

[@bankerdave888]

"Over Budget" is as old as prostitution! 🤣🤣🤣

[@dazsmith3201]

OK, we've had the Palace of Westminster, how about some of the other Royal Palaces and Fortresses? Two that definitely spring to mind are the Tower of London (you did that as a Geographics) and Windsor Castle - the oldest inhabited castle in the world. This place has hosted many well known events. and of course had it's own renovation after the fire. Other palaces that might work as Sideprojects are Sandringham, Balmoral, Kensington and St James Palace. Ely Cathedral might work as a Megaproject as it was started not long after the Battle of Hastings, is massive (Mega) and stands in as Westminster Abbey as a film set!

[@joelressner9651]

I vote for the Royal Pavilion in Brighton!

[@chriscash5350]

I've been here and I say this is one of the greatest creations in "modern" time. It's truly a work of art and will last a 1000 years

[@jakejasonread980]

Inflation... But also convert it from GBP to USD to make it just a little more incomprehensible too.

[@vodafoneuser1690]

right?

[@michaelwright8787]

My grandad was post master at the Palace of Westminster for a fair chunk of his 24 year Royal Mail career, this is after 24 years in the Army . He retired the same year as Betty Boothroyd was replaced as speaker .

[@avalanche1990]

And i thought that the renovation of Canada's parliament was going to be expensive. Westminster beats us by a lot

[@jetsons101]

Simon, Augustus Pugin should get a video of his own. He was a great architect, he really could think out of the box. This video was a gem of a watch. Thanks

[@jedryan727]

Does anyone know why whilst the whole palace is lite at night, there is a section that is not? It can be seen at 16.07 - cheers EDIT: For those interested, there are 2 sections that are not illuminated at night. These are the residents of the speaker of the house and lords.

[@Paul-hl8yg]

That's pissed me off for years. That section of the building stands out further towards the Thames, so perhaps not enough room for the floodlights. However, surely they could place lights under the arch of the bridge, pointing towards that section of the building? It certainly needs lighting up to match the rest! 👍🇬🇧

[@brandonchan4537]

I remember there is a video on this . but i can say it's definitely because it is the residents. edit: sorry ,i can't seem to find it . You can either trust me or maybe search about it yourself ..

[@Paul-hl8yg]

@@brandonchan4537 Oh well, looks like we will have to put up with that section unlit ☹ 🇬🇧

[@hirdy161]

I love the strange and beautiful parts of our country. What an amazing place we live in.

[@ashbolight]

Fun fact: they have a team to go round the building to wind up and set the clocks

[@rc07333]

1952... Wow! Long lived 🤣👍

[@kahnadah]

I used to live in the UK. Westminster is even more awe-inspiring than the video suggests.

[@williamfahey6066]

I love your shows/videos, Simon. They are so well done. and, You are so likable. Thank you for these great videos, Jeff

[@DonLorenzo]

One thousand years? With that amount of rebuilds it’s more like Trigger’s broom.

[@RUDEBOYY2K80]

Alright Dave 🤣

[@fikanera838]

I really enjoy these historic megaprojects! Thankyou.

[@dawnparker1031]

That was a great history lesson thank you

[@cassandraralph5906]

Thank you so much for this most interesting and educational video, I learned a huge amount about Westminister Palace, aka Parliament Buildings! Very enlightening information! Well done Simon, well done indeed again! Thank you again!

[@alimcmoet]

Very interesting, missed out loads of history but still managed to squeeze so much in. There is a lot of history here.

[@joewatson3386]

Simons charisma is so good on this he isn’t just talking about something for half an hour he is having a laugh which is great to see

[@vickielawson3114]

I’ll bet Simon had to double-check that he didn’t misspell Cnut when making this video. That would have caused some trouble.

[@thorzyan]

What a great story, thanks Simon!

[@markbyrum4743]

Excellent vid. Keep at it!

[@tomflynn8265]

6:21 1952? I think you missed it by a century there Simon

[@evandipasquale9255]

During my first visit to London this was one the places I knew I had to visit, basically that whole area is filled with hundreds of yrs of history. Absolutely worth a visit

[@barkydogable]

Westminster, “Hey I’m old”! Giza pyramid, “Hold my sarcophagus”!

[@AtheistOrphan]

Check out Newgrange, Ireland. Even older.

[@edwilko8819]

Fantastic video I learnt soo much

[@neilh990]

New drinking game: Drink when Simon says "The more you know"

[@JangleandChop]

Great work!

[@TsarEventsDMC]

Thank you for nice video! Very informative, interesting and motivating!

[@unixnerd23]

In 1921 parliament sat in Inverness town hall to urgently discuss the Irish issue. The only time parliament has sat outside Westminster. Most of the cabinet were on holiday in the Highlands.

[@lyleslaton3086]

In line with Simon's comment about the Queen. I saw a photograph of the Queen, she was standing on a black and white tile floor, the caption said"Be careful, she can move in any direction she wants to". Classic British humor.

[@JWINDSOR]

Simon I'm looking forward to you doing a video on how much over budget the renovation goes!

[@danielking5812]

May we have the Eurofighter Typhoon please

[@strodey123]

i swear not a day goes by when I don't find another Simon channel lol

[@amandab.recondwith8006]

We LOVE you, Simon!!!!

[@thecastawaydc]

Definitely not big enough for mega projects, but a potential Side project could be the Rochdale Town Hall. It is Grade 1 listed now and was apparently admired by many including Hitler, who reportedly intended to move it brick by brick to Germany if they'd won.

[@RUDEBOYY2K80]

And it was a big if 😉🤣😂🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

[@BIGJATPSU]

Simon, who's British, learned it's officially The Palace of Westminster instead of Westminster Palace. And here I thought he'd let the staff go on holiday for this topic. 😂😂

[@grogipher]

But not yet the difference between England and the UK lol

[@BIGJATPSU]

@@grogipher touché.

[@joebryant8500]

It's okay, he also called it England's parliament/legislature. It's the UK parliament--for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales..

[@tomx641]

@@grogipher PoW has been the home of both the English and UK parliaments.

[@thiernobah4415]

Really great. Watching you from Guinea Conakry West Africa. Thanks

[@TiniestComa8]

@Megaprojects i would really like to see a video about the f-22 raptor, love the work you guys do!

[@johnhemphill1938]

I really enjoyed this, so often when in London I admire this tower at night

[@smodo6250]

Biggest misconception: is people thinking the Queen can do whatever she wants.

[@owenshebbeare2999]

She does have significant cermonial and official powers, though many of the latter are rarely used, if ever.

[@ronpitts6549]

@@owenshebbeare2999 K no

[@megaprojects9649]

And fun bonus fact: Parliament can do whatever it wants. So if a PM has a huge majority in parliament, he could stroll into parliament, and turn the UK into a dictatorship as long as enough MPs from his own party back it.

[@joebryant8500]

She can. Point is, parliament would change the law if she did. It's a sort of stalemate situation: "you can do what you want, but if you do what we don't want, we'll stop you doing it".

[@SpyderRae]

@@joebryant8500 so, no more "off with their heads!!"?

[@jb6027]

Most interesting!

[@benhewitt4293]

Simon, can you do a geographics video of Israel creation and history? Thanks for reading.

[@mattcoffin29]

Megaprojects idea - Google Search Now that is a MEGAproject. The amount of data we as humanity have indexed for easy access is absolutely insane.

[@louiseheight4814]

Love these histories. How about doing one on the Atomium in Belgium ?? Fabulous and unique building.

[@chrisgurney2467]

The Speaker's Chair in the House of Commons is a Copy of the Australian Speaker's chair in the House of Representatives of Old Parliament House which itself is a copy of the original Pugin designed Chair in the House of Commons destroyed in the Blitz

[@vintageradio3404]

When the House of Commons was refitted after WWII, the Speaker's chair was a gift from Australia and an exact replica of the Speaker's chair in what is now known as Old Parliament House in Canberra. This chair was a gift from Great Britain when the Parliament building was constructed in Canberra in 1927. So the House of Commons has an Australian Speaker's chair and Australia's old House of Representatives has a British Speaker's chair. The chair in Australia later had a desk added but retained the original chair design and the footrest.

[@ranosian1135]

Megaprojects idea- The salvaging of the Costa Concordia. That was amazing piece of salvaging

[@TeslaMaster2]

Speaking of palaces, Simon, I recommend the Versailles palace for a future video.

[@richardsingh5827]

Interesting video

[@TheEvilCommenter]

Good video 👍

[@willholt9781]

It’s not been out long enough to even watch it all

[@Kiefsti]

On today's episode of learning with Simon

[@Kadeo-ms6qw]

You should definitely do the V-22 Osprey. The story behind it is pretty interesting

[@chrisyanover1777]

Tea and crumpets! I fancy a cuppa tea and crumpets! Jolly good!

[@osboss1620]

I'm deeply offended /s

[@joebryant8500]

RCST.

[@katherinekinnaird4408]

I love your videos. Especially your command of whit. Makes my day.

[@joshuakampamba9061]

Love it. It's such a nice view🤩😍🇬🇧🇬🇧🌹 especially that it's near Westminster Abbey 👍❤️

[@earnestbrown6524]

I think NOVA had an episode last year about Westminster. Talked about the rebuild as well.

[@bjw4859]

That was really interesting, & I think your title was better than the more accurate, ', Westminster Palace : One Thousand years of rebuilds ', maybe a tip, but I'd be putting a few bloody big water tanks up in the attic, fire does not seem to be this buildings friend, another great video.

[@mkolstad1]

You should do an episode on the DEW Line (Distant Early Warning Line). Could probably get a couple episode out of it.

[@Suprahampton]

Megaprojects on Brooklands, the World's first motor racing circuit

[@TroubleBKC]

"Top X Megaprojects finished on time and under budget" I am legit excited for that video to come out!

[@TroubleBKC]

Would be surprised if there were 10

[@shucroc]

Nice video, Simon. Was that a new video of the palace (Big Ben) from Westminster Bridge at the end? I was last there in 2019 and Big Ben was in jail behind two layers of scaffolding.

[@randomobserver8168]

At 4:59 one sees the completed palace and the nearby abbey and St Margaret's church. I even see the Norman Shaw buildings in the lower right corner, so that might help date the image. But what is the stonking huge tower right in the middle? I've never seen that before.

[@liam-5258]

missed out one strange fact... It is technically illegal to die in the Palace of Westminster, although the law is not enforced there is legislation in place stating that it is high treason to die inside the palace unless you are the sovereign.

[@JimBob-vb8oz]

Do they sentence you to death?

[@iaincareless2469]

Except that is a myth. It's not illegal and there have been 4 deaths. It's a common misconception as people think dying in a Royal Palace would mean you have to have a state funeral - you do not.

[@aliejoe5622]

Can you do a mega projects on your KZbin empire empire. It's absolutely insane and deserves a video (don't forget to praise the growth of the beard)

[@adamhayter1523]

Last try, don't want to be a spammer! Suggestion - The Berlin Airlift This is the story of keeping a city surrounded on all sides alive; A logistical achievement of getting 8000 tons of food, fuel, medicine and supplies per day, into a single airport. The Berlin Airlift is a great story of a logistical nightmare in the middle of the post WW2 occupation of Germany; The Soviets have pushed passed and encircled Berlin. The West and the Soviets each control half. With little warning, the Soviets decide to cut off land and rail access to West Berlin, restricting all supplies to try and force capitulation and allow control of Berlin. The air corridors, however, remain open. The West draws a line - West Berlin will not be allowed to fall.

[@michellemire8462]

Im pretty sure he coverd on one of his channels

[@adrianwebster6923]

The point about rules and protocol is very true. Certain rooms and passages can only entered into at certain times of the day even by staff and others never entered by anyone other than the lords or members. Some of this is a security function and other aspects based on tradition. The whole function is built upon many layers of tradition and protocol. Staff of one house do not cross into sections of the other house without permission/clearance.

[@mustafaemad3614]

Mega Project suggestions: Benban Solar Park, Aswan High Dam, Bar Lev Line and Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

[@benjamingibson4720]

I'm disapointed you didnt mention that the big ben bell and i think all the others were cast in stockton on tees and that the origanl big ben bell cracked because they chose to hit it with a hammer 2.5 times to big so it cracked and broke and so was recast from the old metal in whitechappl

[@kingsrook9866]

would you do videos on the Confederation Bridge and SNOLAB please?

[@fernandoqueirozpopovic7024]

Good to know all that, especially the subway station below it, just need a tube and a lot of big boom sticks

[@NaomiClareNL]

The Dutch parliamentary buildings have just as much going for it and deserver a video too!

[@randomobserver8168]

Yes, and a similar kind of history too. I'd watch that.

[@Khitiara_]

any chance of a vid on the soyuz program? has such fun bits as a genius working himself to death, the only soviet cosmonaut fatalities, and eventually the most reliable rocket ever still going 54 years later

[@amandajones661]

Please do a video on The Lost Colony.

[@nateoconnor97]

Speaking of Megaprojects, can we get a "Simon reads the phonebook" video series?

[@andrewwatkinson1548]

4.09 Never realised King William IV was played by Harry Enfield! 🤣😂🤣

[@ronniefnd]

Megaprojects idea: the Freemasons grand lodge in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Crazy amount of details in that building.

[@Hanzo.Azmodan]

Freemasons Grand Lodge in London. Now thats an ornate building, but I agree The Philadelphia one is too, also the one on Washington DC. That has a brilliant museum and contains the "other flag" that was flown on the moon!

[@jonathanlampier7754]

What was the taller tower shown in the hand drawn rendering of the palace?

[@genericyoutube]

The queen actually has to ask permission to enter. This tradition goes back to the city of londinium, and is reenforced in the magna carta. The people are in control of the country, the queen must ask. The royal family in the UK still exists because they are subordinate to parliament

[@robertewalt7789]

I had the chance to attend a meeting of Commons in 2012. We got to see Westminster Hall, some lobbies, as well as the House of Commons. Apparently it is easier for foreigners (we’re from US) to do so.

[@iaincareless2469]

When not in Covid times, it is open at certain times throughout the year and you can buy tickets for a tour (weekends especially). I went with my family on one. If you live here, you can apply through your MP for a tour for free as well.

[@patrickasselin2326]

Please make videos about other parliaments such as Canada’s, Australia’s, and New Zealand’s.

[@9tailedKitsune]

Whats the painting on 4:00? Love it. Tried searching for it but got nothing.

[@jackbrown3985]

Nobody: The fans: 😃 The common KZbin viewer: 🤨 Simon on thumbnails: 🤓🧐😮🤗🤔

[@magnemoe1]

Its two apartments in Westminster Palace, think its for the speaker of the house and the other for the speaker for the house of the lords. Some weird fact I picked up on tv or youtube.

[@tomx641]

Yeah the speaker has an office and apartment in the building. Bercow showed people around on some tv shows.

[@adriandasilva2169]

can you do one of the berlin airlift?

[@nekozabuza]

Video Idea:Since you did a video on the Davy Crockett atomic weapon, why not do one on Atomic Annie the artillery gun?