Hampton Court Palace - Part 1 Of Its History From 1236 to 1702

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The history of Hampton Court Place - Part 1When Elizabeth ruled, she visited Hampton Court
Hampton Court is a medieval Palace with a hallPalace regularly; at this time it was the most
whose roof boasts the finest decoratedsplendid and magnificent royal building to be found
hammer-beam roof in England.in England. During her reign, Hampton Court it
The history of Hampton starts with the Knightsremained a stage for dramatic performances and
of St John who acquired the manor of Hamptoncourt masked balls.
in 1236 and used the site as a centre for theirBut Elizabeth's successor, James I, brought with
agricultural estates to store produce. There werehim a new band of courtiers and a new, more
very few residences, but the palace was in alavish style of culture and entertainment. When
convenient spot between the royal palaces atJames VI of Scotland became James I of
Sheen and Byfleet, so Hampton was a naturalEngland, Hampton Court provided excellent hunting
place for a break in the journey.and served as a venue for banquets and court
Thus it became a kind of high-status guest housemasques, plays, dances, and productions by
until the Knights of St John decided to rent theWilliam Shakespeare. James's court was notorious
house out to tenants in around 1490. The firstfor its huge expenditure on theatrical
tenant was the courtier Giles Daubeney, who livedentertainments: and, also, for that matter, for its
here from 1494.uproarious revelry. Each autumn the royal court,
Henry VII and his queen stayed at Hampton on aincluding James's wife and children, visited and
number of occasions - it was a peaceful retreatJames's queen, Anne, died at Hampton Court in
from Westminster and the Tower of London.1619.
Hampton Court's next occupant was CardinalCharles I was James's son; he updated parts of
Wolsey, also Lord Chancellor, and close friend ofHampton Court, built a new tennis court and
king Henry VIII.redirected the Longford River, so that its water
He built a vast palace, a magnificent Bishop'scame 11 miles to power the fountains of
palace, with sumptuous private chambers andHampton Court's gardens. He was a
three suites for the royal family: one for Kingknowledgeable art collector and acquired many of
Henry VIII, as well as one for Queen Katherine,the royal paintings and sculpture. His most
and even a suite for Princess Mary. A grandimpressive addition was Mantegna's Triumphs of
processional led from these grand apartments toCaesar, from the Gonzaga family in Mantua; this
the double-height chapel. But one of the mostmagnificent painting has been here since 1630.
impressive parts from this period is Base Court,Unfortunately, Charles was removed from his
the huge outer courtyard with about 40 guestthrone by Parliament in the civil war and
lodgings - all ensuite with a lavatory!imprisoned here. He was executed in 1649.
Thomas Wolsey used Hampton Court to entertainParliamentary troops seized the palace in 1645.
and host some important ambassadorial andMotivated by radical Puritanism, they stripped
diplomatic visits. These visits were occasions formany of the Royal goods, and removed all the
impressive displays of wealth and the inevitablefittings from the Chapel Royal. Ironically, Cromwell,
conspicuous consumption, though matters ofleader of the reformation, kept Hampton Court
state were also dealt with. Wolsey was criticisedPalace and its greatest treasures for his own
by many for his extravagant lifestyle and hisenjoyment. Cromwell's daughter, Mary, was
ostentatious palace at Hampton Court. But whatmarried in the Chapel Royal, and Cromwell
finally brought him down was his persistent refusalenjoyed a lifestyle similar to that of the Royals
to assist Henry in obtaining a divorce fromwho had been deposed.
Katherine, who could not give him a male heir.In 1660 Charles II came to power and it's clear he
Wolsey was deprived of both Hampton Court andpreferred Windsor Castle to Hampton Court.
his position as King's Minister.Nonetheless, he attended royal council meetings
So then Henry decided to rebuild much of thehere and even built lodgings here for one of his
palace so it was a modern and sophisticatedmistresses, Barbara Villiers, and her illegitimate
residence. There were tennis courts, pleasurechildren by him. These rooms were the start of a
gardens, bowling alleys and a hunting park ofmove towards the style favoured by William III
more than a thousand acres. The kitchens wereand Mary II, who ruled from 1689.
huge, as was the Palace chapel, and so too wereThey commissioned Sir Christopher Wren to
the communal dining hall and the communalrebuild Hampton Court; William decided the
flushing toilet, which could seat thirty guests atbuildings needed replacing. Wren's initial plan was to
once - the "Great House of Easement", it wasdemolish the entire palace, with the exception of
called - which seated nearly thirty people at athe Great Hall. But money was in short supply and
time! Water flowed from Coombe Hill in KingstonWren had to be satisfied with some work on the
through lead pipes for three miles to supply theking's and queen's accommodation near the old
palace.Tudor lodgings. Work began in May 1689; but
All of Henry's six wives visited the palace andafter Mary died in 1694, all building works stopped,
were given lavish lodgings. The palace offeredand little was undertaken until 1697.
accommodation for the King's courtiers, family,Encouragement to his efforts was provided by
servants and visitors. In August 1546 Henrythe burning down of Whitehall Palace in 1698!
fêted the French ambassador and two hundredWren transformed the facades of Hampton
gentlemen of France plus a thousand courtiers ofCourt, replacing medieval Tudor work with the
his own for six days.grand and elegant baroque features that we see
But a year later, Henry had died, leaving threetoday. Inside, Gibbons carved magnificent elegant
surviving children (9-year old Prince Edward andfireplaces and mouldings and Antonio Verrio was
his older sisters Elizabeth and Mary), all of whomcommissioned to paint triumphant and colourful
ruled England, and all of whom stayed at Hamptonceilings.
Court.The gardens were renewed and landscaped with
Edward was christened in the Chapel here in 1537,a collection of exotic plants from all around the
and his Henry's daughter Mary honeymooned hereglobe. Gilded wrought-iron screens by Jean Tijou
in 1554. Hampton Court was a relaxing countryand a new Banqueting House by the river
retreat well away from the hurly burly of Londoncompleted the works. But sadly William died at
politics and the pressures of central London royalKensington Palace from complications after falling
palaces like St James's. Little building happenedfrom his horse in Hampton Court Park in 1702.
over this time, since Henry's works had been so