Eltham Palace-8242930493.jpeg by Wikimedia Commons
If the walls of Eltham Palace could talk, they would tell tales of mystery and intrigue, euphoria and tragedy, wealth and destitution. They would whisper of royalty pacing the halls as far back as 1305. They would tell embarrassing childhood stories of Henry VIII growing up there. They would boast of Grand Christmas celebrations put on by the Welsh Royal house of Tudor. And when it finally sat in ruins, the remaining walls would mourn the senseless destruction by Rich the Rebel in the 17th century.
A new voice would finally be given to the palace in the 1930’s when stories might be shared of Art Deco rebuilds, with its aim at extravagance and exuberance. Stories of fine furniture and finer china being imported from around the world. Of eccentric owners obsessively seeking out the world's most prestigious art pieces to hang on display.
And when the walls were done with the telling of it, the floors would grumble about visitors treading on them. Visitors from all the countries of the world traveling long and far to see the spacious rooms finally opened to the public. And oh, if the furniture and the paintings and the gardens could speak! People would line up to hear and see the stories come to life before their very eyes.