Something Old

Lintel stones above a set of double doors leading to the Chamber. You can see them at the top of the flight of stairs leading up from the Garden Lobby. They were part of the old Parliament Hall built between 1632-40, which was 'modernised' in the 19th century at which time the stones were saved and removed for use in a private residence, Arniston House. In 2003, the current owner of Arniston gifted them back to the Parliament.

This is interesting in and of itself, but I reflect that modernisers in whatever century can show scant disregard for what went before. Plus ca change! We were lucky that this much remained and could be repatriated.