The back of Hampton Court
Gentle Reader, When I published the post about Patrick Baty’s article, The Paint Detective, Jane Austen’s World contributor, Tony Grant, did a double take. He had visited Hampton Court and taken note of the gates that Patrick’s firm had analyzed and that were subsequently repainted. Tony wrote:
Privy garden, Hampton Court
“I thought I was seeing things in your recent article, Vic, on Jane Austen’s World. Well I was. I was looking at some of the gates on the river side of Hampton Court. Hampton Court is four miles from us. Whenever friends or family come to stay. if the weather is fine, we often have a walk around Hampton Court. For those who have never seen it, it WOWS!!! them big time.
William and Mary Courtyard, Hampton Court
These pictures are when an old school friend of mine, Clive, was over with his family from Hamilton Ontario. These pictures were taken in 2005.”
To the Tudor kitchens, Hampton Court
From these images, you can see that Hampton Court is indeed a “living Tudor world.”
Cloistered area, Hampton Court
Armorial beast, Hampton Court
Wolsey's Coat of Arms
From the river walk through the railings of the fence, Hampton Court
Gilded gate, Hampton Court
Another image of the gate, Hampton Court
Jane Austen's World 
Wasn’t Hampton Court in use during Henry the VIII’s time? Did he have it built? I’m trying to remember the bit of English history that I know. I’ve been wanting to go there. What is its proximity to London?
Karen, Hampton Court is one train stop away from Richmond. When I visited there, it took at least half a day to go there and tour the palace and grounds – and even then I was rushing it.
Hampton court was built between 1515-1521 by Cardinal Wolsey, who “gave” it over to Henry the VIIIth when he fell out of favor. In the 17th century, a new wing was added under Christopher Wren’s supervision. Half the palace was replaced at the time.
The palace was in use as a royal residence until the time of King George III. From then on, royals favored other palaces.
When I visited Hampton Court, there were so many tourists. I didn’t feel like stepping back into history. But overall, it’s still very impressive.
My Darcy Mutates…
I recall with affection my tour with family of this palace. Unfortunately, I don’t recall strolling down to the river to look at these gates. Your photos have allowed me the privilege. Thank you.
Lovely post. I feel as if I had a field trip in England during my lunch break today. (Back to Dallas, now).
Been there a couple of weeks ago. Amazing place, and fantastic chocolat brownies…lol
Wasn’t Hampton Court extensively damaged in a fire about a dozen years ago? It looks as if it is pristine condition today. Those pictures are so gorgeous. They make me want to book a flight to London.
The fire was at Windsor palace, I’m pretty sure, not Hampton Court.
I should have looked it up. There was a fire in 1986 that damaged 40 rooms of Hampton Court. They have all been restored. There was a devastating fire at Windsor Castle as well in 1992.
I visited Windsor Castle a year after that horrific fire, after which the Queen described the year as Annus Horribilis. That was the year that all the hoopla about Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s “extracurricular” activities were played out in the press.
I remember seeing Prince Andrew standing in front of a burning Windsor Castle talking to reporters. I think Windsor is a favorite of the Queen.
Mary, you answered everybody’s questions. Yes there were fires at both palaces. The fire at Hampton Court was begun in an old lady’s apartment who lived a grace and favour flat at the top of the William and Mary part.
The Queen has a apartments and houses at the various Royal palaces, which are called grace and favour apartments. She can give them to people who have served the state in an exemplary fashion and who themselves have hit hard financial times. The Queen, in a way, looks after them. This lady who died in the fire, was the wife of a colonel of a Royal Marine Commando regiment who had been one of the first groups of troops ashore on D Day. He and his men had fought quite a few miles inland on the first day and relieved Bayeaux.
I think that that is an excellent use of royal property. Since the fire was so devastating, is this tradition continued? Speaking of military service, today is the Battle of Britain Day in the UK. I wrote a post on my blog to honor their service. Thanks, Vic and Tony, for this post.
Oh yes, there are grace and favour apartments at Hampton Court still. The rooms have been completely rebuilt and refurbished in the William and Mary style exactly as they were. More fire precautions that’s all. There are grace and favour apartments in the grounds of Balmorel, probably Windsor Castle, I don’t think Buckingham Palace but at lots of other properties the Queen owns.
A slight correction – we are not painters, but forensic investigators. We carry out an analysis of the painted surfaces in order to see how things once appeared. See this presentation of some of the things that we do – http://bit.ly/bkYIoK.
You might also enjoy a brief slideshow of Hampton Court – http://bit.ly/7H5Mxz
“that” obv.
I’m working on our Hampton genealogy (maiden name is Hampton) and the Hampton Court is mentioned often. It’s obvious to me that my family must’ve come from the poor side of the tracks. We count ourselves fortunate to live in modestly sized homes. Most of our family were agrarians in the US. We do ascribe to the family motto for God and King (with some reservations). At any rate, the pictures are stunning and I wish I could visit.