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

The old palace of Westminster was a porous complex of medieval buildings and later additions. At times such a heterogeneous agglomeration prompted concerns about guarding Parliament's privileged spaces. This was true for public events such as state trials held in Westminster Hall but also during moments of high political tension such as the Wilkeite disturbances and Gordon Riots. This article considers the topography of the palace and assesses the relative openness of this space, how this made Parliament vulnerable to crowds and to being crowded, and the measures taken to ensure the palace's security from internal and external pressures.