News location:

Canberra Today 12°/16° | Saturday, March 30, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Relics mark 80th anniversary of the Blitz

British High Commissioner, Vicki Treadell viewing the exhibition with Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tony Smith and President of the Senate, Scott Ryan. Background, Tania Zora, the curator of the exhibition. Photo: Penny Bradfield AUSPIC/DPS

THIS week marks the 80th anniversary of the worst bombing raid of the London Blitz, and the “Blitz Relics”, which were incorporated into the New Parliament House building, are all on display together outside the Parliament House theatre to mark the occasion.

“The Blitz” was a seven-hour attack that destroyed Britain’s House of Commons chamber, and damaged Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace and, as early as October 1942, then Australian Prime Minister John Curtin was presented by the British government with relics salvaged from damaged and destroyed London landmarks.

The relics given to Australia include part of the fire-damaged brass grille from a door of the “No” Division Lobby of the chamber of the House of Commons, pieces of courtyard railings from near the main entrance gates of Buckingham Palace, part of a wood beam of the vaulting of the Lantern Tower of Westminster Abbey, reconstructed by James Wyatt in 1804 then destroyed by enemy action.

Among the treasures are also a small glass shield constructed from shards of smashed glass collected by librarians from the House of Commons’ library destroyed stained glass windows and a stone gargoyle from the House of Commons without a waterspout, nicknamed “Marmaduke”.

“Marmaduke” was a separate Blitz Relic gift to Australian parliament in 1983 by philanthropist Lorna Crowle. Originally purchased by her late husband William in a sale by the British government to raise funds for the House of Commons chamber reconstruction, it was donated on condition that it also be housed in the new Parliament House when the building was completed.

The Parliament House theatre, where the relics can be seen,  is on level 1, Senate side of the public area.

 

 

Who can be trusted?

In a world of spin and confusion, there’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in Canberra.

If you trust our work online and want to enforce the power of independent voices, I invite you to make a small contribution.

Every dollar of support is invested back into our journalism to help keep citynews.com.au strong and free.

Become a supporter

Thank you,

Ian Meikle, editor

Helen Musa

Helen Musa

Share this

Leave a Reply

Related Posts

Music

Cunio takes top job at NZ School of Music

Immediate past head of the ANU School of Music, Kim Cunio, is to become head of school at Te Kōki, the NZ School of Music, part of the Victoria University of Wellington, reports HELEN MUSA.

Follow us on Instagram @canberracitynews