On the bank of the Thames, at the east confines of St. Margaret's parish, was a palace called Whitehall, originally built by Hubert de Burgh, earl of Kent, before the middle of the 13th century. It afterwards devolved to the archbishop. of York, whence it received the name of York-Place, and continued to be the city residence of the archbishops, till it was purchased by Henry VIII., of Cardinal Wolsey, in 1530. At this period it became the residence of the court; but in 1697 all was destroyed by accidental fire, except the banqueting-house, which had been added to the palace of Whitehall by James I., according to a design of Inigo Jones. This is an elegant and magnificent structure of hewn stone, adorned with an upper and lower range of pillars, of the ionic and Composite order :—the capitals are enriched with fruit and foliages, and also between the columns of the windows. The roof is covered with lead, and surrounded with a balustrade. The building chiefly consists of one room of an oblong form, forty feet high, and a proportional length and breadth. The ceiling, is painted by Rubens. It is now used only as a chapel royal, and the other part of the house is occupied. with state offices.
Source: Leigh's New Picture of London. Printed for Samuel Leigh, 18, Strand;
by W. Clowes, Northumberland Court. 1819