Banqueting House

From the days of Henry VIII until its destruction by fire in 1698, the great Palace of Whitehall was the Sovereign's main London residence. The only part to survive that fire was the Banqueting House. It is still owned by the Crown to this day.

The present building, though not the first Banqueting House, was built in 1622 from a design by Inigo Jones, the leading architect of the time.

The beautiful vaults beneath are known as the Undercroft a favourite haunt of James I. He used to read down there and take a glass or two from the extensive wine cellars.

When Charles I came to the throne, he further enhanced the building s interior by commissioning the Flemish painter Rubens to paint the ceiling. A most respected artist, he was paid 3,000 for his work a vast sum in those days. However, the painting took several years to complete and he had to wait a further three years for payment.

In 1635 Ruben s nine canvasses including two that measured 28 by 20 feet and two measuring 40 by 10 feet were finally put into place. These exquisite paintings are still intact and provide a spectacular sight for today s visitors and guests.

Just as the Banqueting House featured in his early career as King, so it was to feature at the end of Charles I s reign. On 30 January 1649, on a high scaffold outside the north end of the building, Charles was beheaded the only British Monarch ever to suffer such a fate.

In 1698, a huge fire destroyed most of Whitehall Palace. One of the only buildings to survive was The Banqueting House. After that, it had a somewhat chequered history.

Today, the building is still visited by thousands. But it is principally used for entertaining. The Main Hall, with its magnificent Rubens Ceiling paintings, will seat up to 380 for a lunch, dinner, or a conference while 400 can enjoy a cocktail reception. The Undercroft will seat 150, while 380 can have preâ€"meal drinks. For longer cocktails, 250 can be accommodated.

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