article_snippet: A vistor views the dinning room at Eltham Palace, the 1930s home of Stephen and Virginia Courtauld in South East London .
article_snippet: Eltham Palace has undergone a series of transformations over the years from a grand hall used by royals to a millionaire's party palace.
article_snippet: Successive monarchs lavished large sums on a millionaire's party palace.
article_snippet: It was an important royal palace, often used by monarchs who stayed there for hunting trips in the surrounding parks, according to English Heritage.
article_snippet: In 1933 millionaires Stephen and Virginia Courtauld took up a 99 year lease from the Crown.
article_snippet: Among the guests to have visited Eltham after the Courtaulds took up their lease was composer Igor Stravinsky (left) and actress Gracie Fields (right) their set about building a stylish house that incorporated the great hall which English Heritage calls 'a masterpiece of 20th-century design'.
article_snippet: Keen horticulturalists, the Courtaulds also created a variety of garden features including a rock garden, formal rose gardens and a series of garden
article_snippet: ‘rooms’, the latter being more typical of the Edwardian period or Arts and Crafts style.
article_snippet: According to English Heritage, the building provided enough space for entertaining a broad social circle which included Queen Mary, composer Igor Stravinsky, actress Gracie Fields, conductor Malcolm Sargent, film producers Basil Dean and Michael Balcon, band leader Lew Stone, and politicians including Rab Butler and Leo Amery.
article_snippet: From April visitors will be whisked back in time to the swinging 1930s when Stephen and Virginia Courtauld entertained the elite of society including composers, artists, politicians, key socialites and even Queen Mary.'
article_snippet: Visitors to Eltham Palace will be 'whisked back in time' to the 1930s .
highlights_snippet: Property was the 1930s home of Stephen and Virginia Courtauld who were renowned for hosting glamorous parties .
  