This morning, we visited the Banqueting House at Whitehall designed by Inigo Jones, which I would highly, highly recommend to anyone on a trip to London. There was a short, informative video (with a great soundtrack) in the undercroft, and then we were given the audio tour guide and sent upstairs. We sat in the hall that held masques, foreign receptions, Maundy Thursdays, and Touching for the King's Evil during the reigns of Charles I, II, James II, William and Mary, &c &c. Even Cromwell used the space in a very royal manner as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth! I really enjoyed the audio guide--the narrator had a fantastic accent (possibly topping Owen Bennett Jones) and you could choose to listen to further explanations on everything from what Charles I and II were like "as men" to conservation efforts, all while taking in the gorgeous room. Rumor has it during the Great Fire, Christopher Wren saved the Banqueting House by exploding gunpowder at the palace building next to it, containing the fire.
Dreamy sigh.
Obviously, the most significant moment in the Banqueting House's history was the execution of Charles I--who had commissioned the gloriously impressive Rubens canvases on the ceiling for "an astronomical" £3,000. (These survived a couple fires, as well as World War II bombings--which was the only time they were taken down.) Even more interesting, evening receptions and masques ceased when the huge canvases went in because Charles didn't want them to be damaged from candle smoke.
But less about art history and more about history! For Charles I's execution, they constructed a scaffold that reached the second story, so he walked through the hall with its ceilings illustrating the divine right of kings (it being, ironically, the last thing he saw of his reign), exited the staircase window, and walked onto the scaffold.
Even dreamier sigh.
And, I mean, the throne wasn't too bad, either.
I feel at home here.
Apparently, the space is still used today. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think I've found my new dream wedding reception location, replacing Middleton Place...
You are cordially invited to the impossible wedding of Gabriella and Some Dead Guy.
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