75th anniversary of the rebuilding of the House of Commons

This week MPs met in the commons to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the rebuilding of the House of Commons on 26th October 1950 following its bomb damage in World War II as an incendiary hit the “mother of all parliaments” on 10th May 1941.

The history is deep and most interesting is the rebuilding was an international effort of solidarity with gifts from all corners of the commonwealth furnishing the new chamber.

They include;

• Australia – Speaker’s Chair made from Blackbean wood (Moreton Bay Chestnut), Castanospermum australe.

• Bahamas – Minister’s writing desk and chair, English oak (Quercus robur).

• Barbados – Minister’s writing desk and chair, English oak.

• Belize (previously British Honduras) – Minister’s writing desk and chair in Mayflower wood (Tabebuia pentaphylla) and Royal Coat of Arms, English oak.

• Bermuda – Two triple silver gilt inkstands.

• Botswana (previously Bechuanaland Protectorate) – One silver gilt ashtray.

• Canada – Table of the House in Canadian Oak (Quercus spp.).

• Cyprus – Members’ Writing Room table, English oak.

• Dominica (as part of the Windward Islands) – One silver gilt inkstand.

• Falkland Islands – One silver gilt ashtray.

• Fiji – One silver gilt inkstand.

• The Gambia – Two silver gilt ashtrays.

• Ghana (previously Gold Coast) – Minister’s writing desk and chair in Mansonia wood (Mansonia altissima).

• Gibraltar – Two oak table lamps with bronze shades.

• Grenada (as part of the Windward Islands) – One silver gilt inkstand.

• Guernsey – Minister’s writing desk, three chairs, and armchair, English oak.

• Guyana (previously British Guiana) – Four triple silver gilt inkstands.

• Hong Kong – One triple silver gilt inkstand.

• India – North entrance doors to Chamber, English oak.

• Isle of Man – One silver gilt inkstand and two silver gilt ashtrays for Prime Minister’s Conference Room.

• Jamaica – Bar of the House in bronze.

• Jersey – Minister’s writing desk and chair, English oak, and silver gilt inkstand.

• Kenya – Minister’s writing desk and chair in Olive wood (Olea hochstetteri).

• Leeward Islands – Six English oak table lamps with bronze shades.

• Lesotho (previously Basutoland) – Two silver gilt ashtrays.

• Malawi (previously Nyasaland) – One triple silver gilt inkstand and one silver gilt ashtray.

• Malaysia (previously Malaya) – Minister’s writing desk and armchair, English oak.

• Malta – Three silver gilt ashtrays.

• Mauritius – Minister’s writing desk and chair, English oak.

• Newfoundland – Six chairs for Prime Minister’s Conference Room in Newfoundland Birch wood (Betula spp.).

• New Zealand – Two dispatch boxes in Puriri wood (Vitex lucens).

• Nigeria – Furniture for ‘Aye’ Division Lobby in Iroko wood (Chlorophora excelsa).

• Northern Ireland – Two clocks for the Chamber and one division clock for the Clerks’ Table.

• Pakistan – South entrance doors to Chamber, English oak.

• Sabah (previously North Borneo) – One table and five chairs for interview room in White Seraya wood (Parashorea spp.).

• St Helena – One Chairman’s chair for Prime Minister’s Conference Room in Iroko wood (Chlorophora excelsa).

• St Lucia (as part of the Windward Islands) – One silver gilt inkstand in Prime Minister’s Conference Room.

• St Vincent (as part of the Windward Islands) – One silver gilt ashtray.

• Seychelles – Minister’s writing desk and chair, English oak.

• Sierra Leone – Minister’s writing desk and chair in African Gold Walnut wood (Juglans spp.).

• Singapore – One table and five chairs for interview room, English oak.

• South Africa – Three chairs for Clerks’ Table in Black (or True) Stinkwood (Ocotea bullata).

• Sri Lanka (previously Ceylon) – Serjeant at Arm’s chair, English oak.

• Swaziland – One silver gilt ashtray.

• Tanzania (previously Tanganyika) – One table and five chairs for interview room in Iroko wood (Chlorophora excelsa).

• Trinidad and Tobago – Minister’s writing desk and chair, English oak.

• Uganda – Furniture for ‘No’ Division Lobby in Mvule wood (Milicia excelsa).

• Yemen (previously Aden) – Members’ Writing Room table, English oak.

• Zambia (previously Northern Rhodesia) – Two pairs of bronze brackets for the Mace at the Clerks’ Table.

• Zanzibar (now part of Tanzania) – One silver gilt ashtray.

• Zimbabwe (previously Southern Rhodesia) – Two silver gilt inkstands with stationery racks for Clerks’ Table.