Titled as above by the artist, lower right, and signed and dated 1942, lower left. A view of the Lower Hall taken from within the south side of the arch in the Upper Hall, with the oak tables, leather-upholstered chairs and table candelabra made for it following its restoration after end of use as the Naval Gallery (1824-1936). It became the dining mess of the Royal Naval College from 1 May 1939, and remained generally arranged in the form shown here until that (and from 1982 the Joint Services College) moved from Greenwich to Wiltshire in 1998.

The same furniture remained in use for corporate and other functions after the Greenwich Foundation became responsible for the site in 1998, though often in shorter arrangements, until the Hall was closed for the restoration of the main ceiling, 2017-19. It was then largely repurposed elsewhere, much being offered back to the Royal Navy for mess uses including at sea in the two new fleet aircraft carriers, HMS 'Queen Elziabeth' and 'Prince of Wales'. [PvdM amended 4/19]