Banquet Table of Medieval Kings

A real antique

Here are two short articles about the parts of an ancient banquet table of kings that were recently discovered in the Westminster Palace.

Medieval kings' table found at Westminster
News.Scotsman.com, by staff
Fri 9 Jun 2006

Sections of the medieval kings' table smashed by Oliver Cromwell to celebrate the end of the monarchy have been found during renovations to the oldest part of the Palace of Westminster.

The elaborately-carved table is known to have been used by Edward I, the Hammer of the Scots who took the Stone of Destiny to London, but researchers now believe it could date from even earlier.

Read more here: Medieval kings' table found at Westminster

And another report on the find:

Parts of kings' table found at Westminster:

United Press International, by staff
London, June 9, 2006

Sections of a medieval kings' table that was smashed by Oliver Cromwell to celebrate the end of the monarchy, have been found at the Palace of Westminster.

Pieces of the elaborately-carved table were found during renovations in the oldest part of the palace, the principal residence of British kings from the middle of the 11th century until 1512, The Scotsman reported.

Read more here: Parts of kings' table found at Westminster

These are amazing stories.

The Stone of Destiny mentioned in the Scotsman article is a fascinating story in its own right.

There's a tendency for Americans to envy the long recorded history of Europeans. As I see it, The Stone of Destiny and the medieval table of kings and all the history and wonderful structures and paintings and relics and ruins of Europe are part of my history even though I'm an American. My ancestors were European, and beyond that, they were human beings who lived and died, loved, laughed, cried, and dreamed. I am a legitimate heir to the stories and the glory passed down from old times, and I share in the joy of treasures discovered and treasures restored. The history of medieval Europe is my history, and as history of humankind, it belongs to all of us.

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medieval Edward I Stone of Destiny