Every so many years – we like to take the children to revisit places of historical significance. Today, this process involved paying our respects to “Parliament Street” situated opposite Exeter Cathedral and just off of Exeter High Street! As to whether Parliament Street is the narrowest Street in the world is open to debate and a matter of opinion. I do not accept the contending German alley-way as constituting a “street” – and so that ends that argument. All we can really be sure about is the dimensions of the street itself (as the street materially exists – and can be visited) – and even here some sources vary! My own opinion is that “Parliament Street” is the narrowest street in Great Britain and world – at least at the High Street end – as the narrow passage-way tends to expand in width as the 50 metre (160 foot) pathway progresses toward Waterbeer Street! At the narrow High Street end the passage-way is around 0.64 Metres (2 feet 1 inches) wide – whilst at the broader Waterbeer Street-end – the passage-way measures around 1.15 metres (3 feet 9 inches) in wide. In (English) Imperial Inches (the measurement of my youth) we have:
a) High Street (narrow-end) = 25 inches
b) Waterbeer Street (wide-end) = 45 inches
A twenty-inch difference does seem to make sense in original English measurements. Of course, I have not checked this myself (this would be an interesting undertaking) – but I disagree with those texts which suggest (without evidence) that the widest measurement is “48 inches”. A number of reliable texts suggest this passage-way was originally named “Small Street” – and was constructed at sometime during the 14th century (that is during the 1300s). Small Street was renamed “Parliament Street” when the Exeter City Chamber protested about the 1832 Great Reform Bill. The businessmen that controlled Exeter thought the (Whig) Parliament was too narrow minded in its assessment – hence the association between the renamed street and Parliament’s activities. Parliament extended the ability to vote so as to include the wealthy middle class – but continued to exclude the lower middle class and the working class proper. Women were also formerly excluded from the voting process (on occasion – prior to 1832 – some wealthy or titled women were permitted to vote). Before 1832, only those who owned ample land, were titled or paid above a certain threshold of tax – were allowed to vote. Whatever the case, I would like to see more reliable (historical) sources in the public domain – than are currently available. For instance, what evidence is there that the street was built in the 14th century?
Prior to the overthrow of Cromwell’s English Republic in 1660 – the Bourgeoisie (which had seized the means of production following the 1649 execution of King Charles I) – had every intention of allowing the peasants and workers to vote as an award for these people forming the masses of the Parliamentary New Model Army. However, in 1660 a counter-Revolution occurred that saw the Bourgeoisie retain their power – but switch their allegiance away from the peasants and workers and back in favour of the aristocracy and the royal family (although being careful to only reintroduce a Constitutional Monarchy with any real or actual power). Voting for the masses was abandoned – with voting only encouraged amongst the most wealthiest and influential of the post-Cromwellian middle class. I mention this as some have speculated that Parliament Street was renamed as such – as a slight against Cromwell – but I doubt this. Prior to the counter-Revolution of 1660 – Cromwell was very popular and was so powerful that anyone with sense would not dare risk their lives by doing something so stupid as altering a street name.
English Language References:
https://www.exetermemories.co.uk/em/_streets/parliament.php
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 