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Trinity House on Tower Hill in London is to open to the public for just one day in May to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII's maritime guild.

In 1514 a young King Henry VIII granted a Royal Charter to a fraternity of mariners called the Guild of the Holy Trinity 'so that they might regulate the pilotage of ships in the King's streams' and the month of May marks the 500th anniversary of this milestone event in British maritime history.

To celebrate, Trinity House, now home to the Corporation and the working office of the General Lighthouse Authority, will open its doors to the public on Saturday 17 May from 10am to 3pm.

Celebrations: Trinity House will open its doors to the public for one day only on Saturday 17 May to celebrate its 500th anniversary

There is no need to contact the House - interested day-visitors can arrive and wander about the House at their leisure and receive information from guides stationed throughout.

Those unable to make this date can schedule a visit from 10am to 3pm on Saturday 20th September as part of the city-wide Open House London promotion created by Open-City (www.open-city.org.uk) and staged on 20 and 21 September providing rare public access to 800 other exceptional buildings in London.

Trinity House is located on Tower Hill overlooking the historic Tower of London and the picturesque Trinity Square Gardens containing a memorial to merchant navy heroes of two World Wars and the Falklands War.

Stairwell ceiling: Visitors who can't visit Trinity House in May can schedule an appointment for Saturday 20 September during Open House London

Built in 1794, the history of the House is omnipresent and throughout the building, valuable paintings and antiques bear out the nation's remarkable nautical heritage.

One of its more recent acquisitions is the brass bell from the Royal Yacht Britannia which was decommissioned in 1997.

Exclusive: In its 200 year history, the building of Trinity House has welcomed royalty, prime ministers and Lords of the Admiralty

Trinity House's connection with seamarks and lighthouses dates from Elizabeth I and the Seamarks Act of 1566 which granted powers to set up 'so many beacons, marks and signs for the sea whereby the dangers may be avoided and escaped and ships the better come into their ports without peril.'

The first lighthouse was built during the reign of James I by Trinity House at Lowestoft in 1609, and the next 200 years saw a proliferation of light house building around the coast.

Lighthouse tables: The first lighthouse was built during the reign of James I by Trinity House at Lowestoft in 1609

In its 200 year history, the building of Trinity House has welcomed royalty, prime ministers and Lords of the Admiralty and is today managed by Deputy Master, Captain Ian McNaught.

Reflecting the on-going patronage of the Crown, the current Master of the Corporation is HRH The Princess Royal, filling a role held in former centuries by, amongst others, the diarist Samuel Pepys, the Duke of Wellington, William Pitt the Younger and, more recently, The Duke of Edinburgh.

History: Trinity House is currently home to the Corporation and the working office of the General Lighthouse Authority

Trinity House is available for private hire on an exclusive use basis and throughout the year is a venue for corporate and social occasions and is licensed for weddings and civil service ceremonies (http://ift.tt/1fc76XG).