“The finest palace in England” is what Cardinal Thomas Wolsey sought to create here at Hampton Court Palace. But how did this magnificent structure become what we see today?
Hampton Court Palace started as property of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. In 1514, Thomas Wolsey, a favorite of King Henry VIII, took over. Over seven years, he spent a fortune building the palace.
Wolsey aimed for a Renaissance design. He wanted grand apartments and classical details. Historian Sir John Summerson said Wolsey wanted to show foreign embassies that Henry VIII’s minister lived as well as any cardinal in Rome.
In 1529, Wolsey gifted Hampton Court Palace to King Henry VIII. Henry began his own expansion. He needed space for his court of over one thousand people. Vast kitchens were added. These kitchens allowed the King to provide free food and drink.
Between 1532 and 1535, Henry added the Great Hall and the Royal Tennis Court. The Great Hall was the last medieval great hall built for the English monarchy. The King would dine here seated at a high table.
In 1540, the gatehouse got the Hampton Court astronomical clock. It showed the time, moon phases, and high water at London Bridge. This was important because people often arrived by barge.
During the Tudor period, Hampton Court Palace saw many historic events. Henry’s son, Edward VI, was born here in 1537. His mother, Jane Seymour, died two weeks later. Later, King Henry learned of his fifth wife’s adultery while at chapel in Hampton Court.
After Henry VIII died, Queen Mary I and King Philip spent their honeymoon here. Mary hoped to give birth to an heir at Hampton Court Palace. However, she had two phantom pregnancies.
Queen Elizabeth I later had the eastern kitchen built. Today, it is the palace’s public tea room.
After Elizabeth I died, James I of the House of Stuart took the throne. The Hampton Court Conference in 1604 led to the King James Version of the Bible.
King Charles I also used Hampton Court. It became both his palace and his prison. Oliver Cromwell later preserved Hampton Court during the Commonwealth. He enjoyed its art and tapestries.
After the Restoration, Charles II and James II visited Hampton Court. However, they preferred other residences.
In 1689, William III and Mary II began a massive rebuilding project. They wanted a Baroque palace to rival Versailles. Sir Christopher Wren drew up the plans. Work stopped after Queen Mary died. Half of Henry VIII’s palace remains today.
George II was the last monarch to live at Hampton Court Palace. From the 1760s, it housed grace and favor residents. These were people who had served the Crown.
In 1838, Queen Victoria opened Hampton Court Palace to the public. It quickly became a major tourist attraction. In 1986, a fire damaged the King’s Apartments.
Today, Hampton Court Palace is cared for by Historic Royal Palaces. It displays art from the Royal Collection. Visitors can explore the maze, the royal tennis court, and the Great Vine. The Hampton Court Palace Festival and Garden Festival also take place here. Hampton Court Palace has been the venue for Road Cycling Time Trial of the 2012 Summer Olympics.
From Wolsey’s grand vision to its role in royal dramas, Hampton Court Palace is a treasure trove of history. Its walls echo with tales of power, love, and loss. As you wander through its courtyards and halls, imagine the lives of those who once called this palace home.