The New House of Commons. This new photograph of the Houses of Parliament, taken from a specially chartered aircraft, shows (left centre of buildings) the scaffolding which marks the building of the new House of Commons. This unusual angle study of the "Mother of Parliaments" beside the Thames shows famous "Big Ben" on left, and the Victoria Tower on right. The Speaker of the House of Commons, Colonel Clifton Brown, is tomorrow (Wednesday) to lay the foundation stone of the new House of Commons, which is being rebuilt after its wartime blitzing. The ceremony, at which the Prime Minister, with Mr. Winston Churchill and leading members of the House will be present, is to be broadcast and televised. May 25, 1948. (Photo by Fox).