Hampton Court Palace

Today, a step back in history to the times of the Tudors. This is the Thames from Hampton Court Bridge, I imagine it wouldn't have looked that much different when Henry VIII used to arrive at his riverside palace on the Royal Barge.

The driveway and entrance to the Royal Palace photographed from the side of the Thames

On the gateway a plaque that reads:
THE SITE OF THE TOY INN
An ancient Hostelry of Note
Built for Oliver Cromwell's Troops c.1650
rebuilt c.1700 demolished c.1840 wherein
Pope wrote the Rape of the Lock, the Duke
of Clarence, afterwards William IV formed
and presided over his Toy Club and Thomas
Dunckerley founded the Masonic Lodge
of Harmony 255 in 1785. The Lodge held
here for 37 years now erects this Tablet.
July 1933

The front entrance to the Tudor portion of Hampton Court Palace


A dragon statue guarding the main gateway - he holds the Henry VIII's coat of arms.

This is Henry's Great Hall, Englands last and greatest Medieval hall, with it's magnificent vaulted wooden ceiling. This would have a been a truly awe-inspiring room for Henry's guests whether they be other royalty or ambassadors of foreign nations. It's purpose was to create the idea that Henry was a great king at the head of a great and powerful nation.

And skulking in the corners are some reminders of Henry's wives, even the disgraced ones. On this wooden panel is the intertwined monogram of Henry and Anne Boleyn.

Off the Great Hall were some hunting trophies.

And onto some of the private apartments... decorated in the most outrageous style, opulence, paintings, tapestries, trompe l'oeil, carved panelling. Unfortunately my phone camera doesn't really like dark places so not as many photo's as I'd have liked.

At one point, Henry paraded along one of the corridors with his new Queen (I think this one was Anne Boleyn)

From the private apartments of Mary II there were stunning views across the landscaped gardens.

In a side yard off the Fountain Courtyard, this magnificent lady was taking a moment (later on she would fly in the falconry display)

And these two gentlemen were available to take you on a tour of the East Gardens

The formal Privy Garden

and the view looking back to the Georgian-built part of the Palace from the Privy Garden. It really was a glorious early summer day!

The smaller of the Pond Gardens, the hedges formed the shape of a crown.

The Hornbeam Arch, a welcome spot of shade after a walk around some very hot gardens.

Back to the older part of the Palace, this is the Clock Court. Over Anne Boleyn's gate is this magnificent astrological clock built in 1540

Henry himself was posing for portraits!

and his wife too... (I don't want to imagine how hot those costumes were today)

Looking up the chimney from one of the enormous fire places in Henry's kitchens.

In the wine cellar, Henry appeared once again and was arm-wrestling with members of his Court

One of the Georgian bedchambers - though they probably didn't sleep here, just received honoured guests.

Another elaborate ceiling

And of course you can't go to Hampton Court Palace without trying to find your way around the maze

Another part of the gardens, the wilderness gardens, where we found more shade under another archway

Back to the East Garden for the sword fighting demonstration - these are apparently German long swords.

A wander around the beautiful gardens, what you can't see in this photo is the enormous carp that were swimming around in this canal/lake - the ripple is where they was just skimming under the surface of the water. I swear they were at least <-------- this big --------> she says holding her hands 2ft apart.

A coot on one of the ornamental lakes

And a magnificent heron, just posing for us by the Long Water

And finally to the Rose Garden before heading home

And another red pin in my Googleworld. Next stop...