London: Hampton Court Part 1, The Vibe

June 13, 2013: Hampton Court

Hampton Court was the other place in London I REALLY wanted to go, because of my Tudor Studies. This was the home of Henry VIII. It was spectacular, but I also learned a few things, which I always love.

Part of the entrance gate:

 

Just inside the gates, near where the Information building is, is this plaque for "The Site of the Toy Inn: An ancient Hostelry of Note.  I translated it below, in case you can't read it very well.

 Built for Oliver Cromwell's Troops c. 1650, rebuild c.1700, demolished c.1840 wherin Pope wrote the Rape of the Lock, the Duke of Clarence, afterwards William IV formed and presided over his Toy Club and Thomas Dunkerly founded the Masonic Lodge of Harmony 255 in 1785. The Lodge held here for 57 (?) years, now erects this Tablet July 1933.

A beautiful entrance to somewhere! :-)

From the Plaques. 
Tudor Palace: Cardinal Wolsey would still recognize parts of the building you see today. He bought Hampton Court in 1514 and turned it from manor house to palace. After Wolsey's downfall, the palace became one of Henry VIII's favourites and he spent the equivalent of many millions of pounds improving it. Much of Henry's palace remain-you can still see his magnificent Guest Hall today, complete with the incredibly expensive tapestries he commissioned.

The detail of this place is amazing. It isn't as intense as baroque style, but the small touches caught my eye, and made me appreciate the workmanship and attention to detail nonetheless. Notice the different colored brick lining the window, but especially this corner detail. No real function as I can tell. Just pretty, and a lot of effort for aesthetics!



The following pictures are just samples of the feeling of the place. When you go in, you feel a little like you have stepped back in time, even more so than the Tower of London, or really any other site I have visited. It has vibes of the time, and echoes of the history. It was super cool for me. In addition, they have robes they let you wear around the Palace, if you want to. Since it was on the cool side and even a titch rainy, of course we borrowed some! :-)

Detail of a chimney

Notice the old design still visible on the wall! This place must have been spectacular in it's day.

Joseph and his "robe". :)

As near as I can tell, these are like ancient door bells. I have seen them several places. I don't know if they are still functioning anywhere, but some are really decorative and quite pretty. This one was just plain cool.

Just look at those chimneys! And the roofline. So much for the eye to be active and enjoy.

 I have to comment on the details again. I find it so interesting that a craftsman would take so much pride in his work, to decorate chimneys, literally stories high, and from many views, hidden. With so much work and muck to just survive back then, who would have looked up to admire columns used to dispel smoke? Yet someone felt it was important. Too bad our society today, doesn't take as much pride in the jobs or work we do. Interesting to think about.

I got a kick out of this raised door in the middle of the wall. I am pretty sure Joseph would need to duck to enter it, once he climbed those little steps.






Up next...Henry's Kitchen! :)