It was Henry VIII who decided to move (to Whitehall Palace) and gave his private chapel over to the House of Commons (this is the origin of the seating of the House of Commons - chapel stalls facing each other as seats) The House of Commons suffered damage during the air raid of London

on 10 May 1941. The post-war rebuilding of the Commons' chamber did not reproduce the original, in use from 1850 to 1941, which had been similar in style to the Lords' chamber but without the paintings or sculpture. Instead, Sir Giles Gilbert Scott chose a simplified gothic style in lighter coloured oak. The red stripes in the carpet mark the traditional separation of two swords' lengths between the two sides of the House. The House of Commons Chamber is really quite small. Although there are 646 MPs, there are only seats for 427 so sometimes, when very important matters are being discussed, Members will be squeezed onto the benches and some will sit on the steps.

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