The road connecting Parliament Square with Trafalgar is called Whitehall and is the site of many official events and ceremonies, such as Remembrance Day on the 11th of November. In the past, Whitehall Palace stood here. Initially built as the private residence of Cardinal Wolsey, it was extended during the reign of Henry VIII, all the way from Trafalgar Square down to where Big Ben stands today. By the early 16th century, it was one of the finest palaces in Europe, boasting over 1.500 rooms. This wasn't meant to last forever though. In 1698, a maidservant left some linen sheets on a charcoal brazier unattended in one of the bedchambers. The sheets caught fire, and within seconds it spread, engulfing the timber palace and burning it to the ground. The only surviving structure is Banqueting House, which is still standing today.