Apsley House Dining Room Reopens This Weekend

The State Dining Room at Apsley House AKA One London reopens to the public this Saturday, following a painstaking conservation and restoration project by English Heritage.

Once the venue for the annual banquet to commemorate and celebrate victory at Waterloo, the dining room reflects Wellington the glorious war hero. Flanked by portraits and lit by an early 19th century chandelier it's the table that's going to grab your attention. The Duke was given a silver centrepiece by the Portuguese in 1816 as part of a 1,000 piece silver service. When we say 'centrepiece' please imagine 'amazing silver island of marvellous figures and candelabra that dazzles the whole table'. Have a look at the photos. Truly awesome.

Did you know? Apsley House was given to the nation by the 7th Duke of Wellington in 1947. It is the last surviving great London town house open to the public, but also the only property managed by English Heritage in which the original owner’s family still live.

Images: Josephine Oxley, Keeper of the Wellington Collection puts the finishing touches to the Portuguese silver table centrepiece in the Dining Room at Apsley House. Photos by Clare Kendall.

Apsley House is open to the public Weds to Sun 11am-5pm. Admission adults £6, children £3, EH members free.