The marks {symbol} placed on each side of this tablet indicate the position of an Archway which for upwards of 130 years, from the first year of the reign of King Edward VI, AD 1547 - until the year 1680, was the principal access to the House of Commons, which sat under a grant from that Monarch within the Chapel of St Stephen. Members approaching the House of Commons through this archway passed down the Cloister, which is built against the other side of this wall, ascended a flight of steps leading from the South-West corner of the Cloister to a vestibule attached to the West front of St Stephen's Chapel, & entered the building by the Western doorways.
King Charles I passed through this archway when on the 4th Jan.y 1641-2, he attempted to arrest in the House of Commons the five members of Parliament.
This access to the House of Commons fell into disuse after the year 1680. A doorway was then cut through the centre of the South wall of this Hall which led to the entrance into the House of Commons through the West doors of St Stephen's Chapel, a route which remained in use until that building was destroyed by the fire of the 16th Oct. 1834.
Placed here by order of the First Commissioner of H.M. Works and Public Buildings, 1895.
The "First Commissioner of H.M. Works and Public Buildings, 1895" could be one of two people: Herbert Gladstone held the post March 1894 - June 1895; held the post July 1895 - August 1902. Note that "first" is part of the job title, it does not mean the first person to hold the post "Commissioner of....".
Site: Westminster Hall - Archway (1 memorial)
SW1, Westminster Hall
We failed to take a photo showing the location of the plaque but Google Street View came to the rescue with this image showing the plaque and the 'marks' on either side.
The plaque is on the east wall of the Hall, towards the south end.
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