One of the major challenges has been finding examples of decorations and furnishings of the right type and time to be used as inspiration for the palace project. For example, there really aren’t too many examples of painted 16th-century coffered ceilings around. Fortunately a rather fine example does still exist at the Westgate Museum in Winchester.

A team from Historic Scotland, and some of its contractors, was recently given special access to study the painted panels, which originally graced Winchester College. The idea is to use them as the basis for the recreation of the Queen’s Inner Hall at Stirling. The panels turned out to be beautifully preserved and ideal for the purpose we have in mind and hopefully arrangements can be agreed for this to happen.

The Stirling versions would be adaptations rather than exact copies, not least because the Tudor heraldic devices will need to be changed for ones more relevant to the Scottish court. The work would all be carried out by experienced craftsmen, with the guidance of specialist art historians, to ensure that everything is stylistically consistent. Once completed, it is hoped that the ceiling would add greatly to the experience and enjoyment of palace visitors.


More about the palace project