ABSTRACT
The Horse Guard Parade in Whitehall is discussed in relation to festivals that span over five centuries. These include the sixteenth-century Elizabethan Accession Day Tilts, the current Changing the Queen’s Life Guard routine as well as Beating the Retreat and Trooping the Colour ceremonies. This chapter argues that buildings cannot simply act as backdrops to events, but need to be integrated as part of the said occasion. Issues of site by means of architecture and the role of users in relation to history are described through a multi-fold narrative. Knowledge of historical events contribute to the argument that participant experiences at different moments can enable new and different readings of the architecture to be generated and accessed. The relationship between the Church of England and the Tilts is analysed and compared to how contemporary events are perceived. These explorations include the changing role of Whitehall through history and how this has further altered the meaning of the events. Hence the reading of the festivals and site is enhanced through revealing the layered meanings which in turn enriches the understanding of the architectural context and the reciprocal relationship between site, perception, and events from the past.
