Banqueting House

Heritage listing

Details TQ 3080 SW CITY OF WESTMINSTER WHITEHALL SW1 83/76 (East side) Banqueting House GV I Banqueting House of former Whitehall Palace. 1619-25, by Inigo Jones, refaced in Portland stone by Soane, 1829-30; the set back north bay with staircase 1798 by James Wyatt. Originally Oxford stone contrasted with Northamptonshire stone above and Portland stone for the balustrade only. Revolutionary interpretation of Palladio town palace themes,following Jones's visit to Vicenza. 2 main storeys over basement. 7 windows wide with 3 centre bays very slightly advanced. Vermiculated basement and ashlar rusticated main storeys with ashlar dressings and orders. Entrance in added staircase bay. Tall architraved glazing bar sashes with alternating pediments on consoles to lower main storey and cornices on consoles to upper storey, regularly articulated by superimposed orders, Composite over Ionic, with centre bays given emphasis by attached columns and the pilasters of flanking bays doubled to reinforce the corners. Plinth to lower main storey, entablature between storeys and crowning entablature with enriched garland frieze running between the Composite capitals, balustraded parapet overall. Similar east front. Wyatt's stair annex is stuccoed with stone parapet, cornice, bands and dressings; above the dcorway is a roundel niche containing bronze bust of Charles I by Le Sueur. The interior has vaulted undercroft above which rises the magnificent double cube saloon, the walls reflecting the exterior articulation with Ionic half columns below and Corinthian pilasters above stone balustered gallery; main north entrance emphasised by 4 detached columns carrying balcony projection of gallery; the great compartmented ceiling framing Rubens' Apotheosis of James I, c.1630-34, set in place 1635.

From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.