A regal theater The Great Hall was utilized for plays, dances, and masques on important occasions. To avoid a plague outbreak in London, James I's court spent Christmas and New Year 1603-4 in Hampton Court. The festivities included dancing, masquerades, and performances of sword fights, horse races, and other activities by jesters and musicians. The Great Hall at Hampton Court Palace is one of the largest and most magnificent rooms in England. First built in 1405, it has been extensively remodeled over the years but remains an impressive space today. The original structure consisted of two halls: the larger, eastern hall opened out onto the queen's garden; the smaller, western hall opened out into the king's garden. Both had a gallery that ran around the entire room above which guests could walk. There were no pillars inside the room; instead, there were large beams supported by wood columns called "elves." The Elve Chamber is located next to the Great Hall and was originally part of the palace kitchen. It is a small room with thick stone walls and a flat ceiling made of wooden beams. In 1540, Henry VIII acquired the services of Italian artists who worked on several projects at Hampton Court including painting the huge murals that can be seen today in many of the palace's public rooms.