The King’s Table was a carved stone table that was a symbol of royal power in

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

. The table was used by monarchs from the 13th century onward for coronation feasts and state banquets.

First use by Edward I of England

Edward I, the king who took the Stone of Scone from the Kingdom of Scotland, was the first English monarch recorded to have used it. The mid 13th-century style of carving means that the table could date back to Henry III. Henry VIII used the table for feasts after his marriages to

Catherine of Aragon Catherine of Aragon (also spelt as Katherine, historical Spanish: , now: ; 16 December 1485 – 7 January 1536) was List of English royal consorts, Queen of England as the Wives of Henry VIII, first wife of King Henry VIII from their marr ...

and Anne Boleyn. The table was originally constructed with Purbeck marble, sourced from

Dorset Dorset ( ; Archaism, archaically: Dorsetshire , ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by Somerset to the north-west, Wiltshire to the north and the north-east, Hampshire to the east, t ...

, and repaired over a 300-year period with the first major change occurring in 1307.

Destruction by Oliver Cromwell

The King's Table was broken into pieces by

Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English statesman, politician and soldier, widely regarded as one of the most important figures in British history. He came to prominence during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, initially ...

following the

English Civil War The English Civil War or Great Rebellion was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Cavaliers, Royalists and Roundhead, Parliamentarians in the Kingdom of England from 1642 to 1651. Part of the wider 1639 to 1653 Wars of th ...

and buried under the Palace of Westminster. A new table was created during the

English Restoration The Stuart Restoration was the reinstatement in May 1660 of the Stuart monarchy in Kingdom of England, England, Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland, and Kingdom of Ireland, Ireland. It replaced the Commonwealth of England, established in January 164 ...

. The broken pieces of the original were placed in the foundations of a dais built in the 17th century in Westminster Hall, which was used by

James II of England James II and VII (14 October 1633 – 16 September 1701) was King of England and Monarchy of Ireland, Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII from the death of his elder brother, Charles II of England, Charles II, on 6 February 1 ...

at his coronation banquet.

1960s rediscovery

The first piece of the table was rediscovered in the 1960s beneath the floor of Westminster Hall. Archaeologists rediscovered more pieces of the table in 2006.

References

{{Reflist

External links

Stone table of royal power lunch found in seat of democracy
''The Times Online'', 9 June 2006 13th-century artifacts 1960s archaeological discoveries Tables (furniture) Edward I of England Henry VIII Limestone sculptures in the United Kingdom Oliver Cromwell Palace of Westminster James II of England Henry III of England

First use by Edward I of England

Destruction by Oliver Cromwell

1960s rediscovery

See also

References

External links