On 16 October 1834, disaster struck the British parliament.
A fire broke out in the Palace of Westminster, the seat of government, after an overheated stove used to destroy the Exchequer's stockpile of tally sticks set fire to the House of Lords Chamber.
In the resulting conflagration both houses of Parliament were destroyed along with most of the other buildings in the palace complex.
Westminster Hall was saved largely due to heroic firefighting efforts. The Jewel Tower, the crypt of St Stephen's Chapel and the cloisters were the only other parts of the palace to survive.
But amongst the treasures destroyed were ten giant tapestries depicting key scenes from the England's defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. They were displayed in the old House of Lords and were as iconic a part of the old Houses of Parliament as the rebuilt parliament's Big Ben is today.
In the BBC's new two-part series, Raising The Armada, the BBC's deputy political editor James Landale tells how, after more than 150 years, the Spanish Armada is finally returning to the Palace of Westminster.
Raising the Armada
14th April 2010
BBC
Spain failed in its attempt to invade England in 1588
A famous victory, a devastating fire and the recreation of some iconic art.
In Raising The Armada, the BBC's deputy political editor James Landale tells how, after more than 150 years, the Spanish Armada is finally returning to the Palace of Westminster.
In 1588, English commanders saw off the mighty invasion fleet assembled by Philip II of Spain - a triumph which laid the foundations of Britain's Naval power.
Ten giant tapestries depicting key scenes from the campaign were displayed in the old House of Lords. They were as symbolic of Parliament as Big Ben is today. But their tale was lost when the entire building burnt down in 1834.
Royal request
The Houses of Parliament burnt down in 1834
Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria, wanted six tapestries to be recreated on
canvas - to hang in a specially designed room next to the new Lords chamber. But work was halted by his death in 1861, with only one painting completed.
James Landale explains how the efforts of a House of Lords researcher - and £330,000 of private sponsorship - have now helped persuade peers to revive the project.
Recreation
In the first of a two-part series, Raising The Armada follows artist Anthony Oakshett and his team in their studio at Wrest Park as they create five paintings to match the one Victorian example.
And the programme also hears the tale of the one tapestry which escaped the flames - and its probable fate.
In the second episode, BBC Parliament will report on the installation of the paintings in the House of Lords.
They are due to go on public display in the Royal Gallery in June, before being fixed high up on the walls of the Prince's Chamber in autumn 2010.
news.bbc.co.uk
A fire broke out in the Palace of Westminster, the seat of government, after an overheated stove used to destroy the Exchequer's stockpile of tally sticks set fire to the House of Lords Chamber.
In the resulting conflagration both houses of Parliament were destroyed along with most of the other buildings in the palace complex.
Westminster Hall was saved largely due to heroic firefighting efforts. The Jewel Tower, the crypt of St Stephen's Chapel and the cloisters were the only other parts of the palace to survive.
But amongst the treasures destroyed were ten giant tapestries depicting key scenes from the England's defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. They were displayed in the old House of Lords and were as iconic a part of the old Houses of Parliament as the rebuilt parliament's Big Ben is today.
In the BBC's new two-part series, Raising The Armada, the BBC's deputy political editor James Landale tells how, after more than 150 years, the Spanish Armada is finally returning to the Palace of Westminster.
Raising the Armada
14th April 2010
BBC
Spain failed in its attempt to invade England in 1588
A famous victory, a devastating fire and the recreation of some iconic art.
In Raising The Armada, the BBC's deputy political editor James Landale tells how, after more than 150 years, the Spanish Armada is finally returning to the Palace of Westminster.
In 1588, English commanders saw off the mighty invasion fleet assembled by Philip II of Spain - a triumph which laid the foundations of Britain's Naval power.
Ten giant tapestries depicting key scenes from the campaign were displayed in the old House of Lords. They were as symbolic of Parliament as Big Ben is today. But their tale was lost when the entire building burnt down in 1834.
Royal request
The Houses of Parliament burnt down in 1834
Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria, wanted six tapestries to be recreated on
canvas - to hang in a specially designed room next to the new Lords chamber. But work was halted by his death in 1861, with only one painting completed.
James Landale explains how the efforts of a House of Lords researcher - and £330,000 of private sponsorship - have now helped persuade peers to revive the project.
Recreation
In the first of a two-part series, Raising The Armada follows artist Anthony Oakshett and his team in their studio at Wrest Park as they create five paintings to match the one Victorian example.
And the programme also hears the tale of the one tapestry which escaped the flames - and its probable fate.
In the second episode, BBC Parliament will report on the installation of the paintings in the House of Lords.
They are due to go on public display in the Royal Gallery in June, before being fixed high up on the walls of the Prince's Chamber in autumn 2010.
news.bbc.co.uk