The Background behind Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace has been home to Henry VIII and other members from the royal family. It’s the location of formal gardens, gorgeous works of art, and centuries of history. Fans of English history have the opportunity to see how royalty once lived, look at majestic rooms from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and stroll through beautifully restored gardens. It is a must-see attraction inside the London area.
Hampton Court Palace is best known as the home of Henry VIII and can be a major tourist destination inside the United Kingdom. It was built inside the mid 1520s by Thomas Wolsey after he obtained a 99 year lease on the property in 1514. Henry VIII acquired the property from Cardinal Wolsey in the late 1520s and started to make numerous additions towards the palace. Not much of the first building remains due to the extensive remodeling and rebuilding by Henry VIII. King Henry enlarged his own living quarters, reconstructed parts of the kitchens, reconstructed the Chapel Royal, replaced a lot of theGreat Hall, and included tennis courts in the grounds. By the time he completed the remodeling around 1540, there were tennis courts, bowling alleys, beautiful gardens, large dining halls, plus a vast hunting park.
The palace carried on to be employed by royalty, from Henrys kids through to the House of Stuart. In 1689, Sir Christopher Wren destroyed pieces of the Tudor Palace and started constructing a new building for King William III and Queen Mary II. In 1760, when George III became king, he decided that Hampton Court must no more be a royal home. Hampton Court Palace is essentially two palaces from different eras: a Tudor palace made by Cardinal Wolsey and Henry VIII, along with a Baroque palace built by William III and Mary II.
There is a lot to see when going to Hampton Court Palace. One of the most pleasant things to experience is the world well-known hedge maze. Construction started in 1690 as a form of entertainment for William III. It’s now over a half mile of winding paths encompassed by seven foot high hedges covering one-third of an acre. Sixty acres of natures most lovely colors blended with vines, sculptures, and paintings create an idyllic scene.
The Tudor kitchens must not be missed; these kitchens had been built between 1530 and 1737 and were capable of providing meals for 600 people. The chefs inside the Hampton Court kitchens cooked a yearly average of 8200 sheep, 2330 deer, 1240 oxen, 1870 pigs, and other various animals. All this food was washed down with an annual consumption of 600,000 gallons of beer. The Royal Chapel, with its ornate ceiling must likewise be on everyones plan.
Going to Hampton Court Palace is quick and simple from London. It’s located next to the River Thames, southwest of London. It’s effortlessly accessible by train, bus, taxi or car. It can be a must-see attraction when traveling to the London region for those who like historical past, royalty, architecture, and stunning gardens.
Find more info about Hampton Court Palace
