Sessions House
This impressive Italian-style building, constructed in 1819, dominates Hamilton. The clock tower was added in 1887 to commemorate the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria. Sessions House is the home of both the Bermuda’s House of Assembly and Supreme Court.
The House of Assembly meets on the second floor and is the third oldest parliament in the world. The layout is much the same as that of its British equivalent, the House of Commons, with the two major political parties sitting opposite each other and presided over by a speaker. Wearing a long black robe and wig, it is the speaker’s responsibility to maintain order during parliamentary debates. If the scary outfit isn’t sufficient to keep the rabble in check, the speaker is also armed with a silver mace, a blow from which should subdue even the rowdiest of members.
The house is open to the public on weekdays between (09:00 - 12:30, 14:00 – 17:00) but catch it at its liveliest by getting a seat in the public gallery during parliamentary sessions (10:00 onwards, Fridays, November – June).
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