London: Hampton Court Part 4: More Cool Spaces

June 13, 2013: Moving to the small room behind the Great Hall, this was like a waiting room, for the women especially. It was still attached to the dining hall, and open, so that they could see and hear what was happening (depending on where you sat). But maybe if you needed a break from the noise, smells, and revelry, it was a nice semi-refuge.

Another one of the tapestries.

 Notice the gold and silver threads reflecting the light, after all these years. Beautiful.

Just a little nook in the room.


































The room was called the "Great Watching Chamber." Courtiers and important visitors wait - or - watch - in this luxurious chamber for news or messages from the king. If they are fortunate, and in "favour" they may be able to speak to the king and his closest companions as they enter and leave his private apartments.

 The ceiling:

We found a couple of lovely ladies working on some stitching and playing a game in the Watching Room.

 At one of the small tables, was a "Game of the Goose" game board for you to try. You could sit and play!

 Apparently there were rules for using the Garderobe, (or toilet). There was one in a room, off to the side of the Great Hall. These were posted:

 This is a Page's room. It is quite simple compared to the rest of the palace. But I suppose you would be happy to have a safe roof over your head and food to eat.

Detail on the cupboard.

Catherine Howard: Catherine was 30 years younger than Henry when they married. He was 49, and she was no older than 19. She was actually 7 years younger than his daughter, Mary, who did not like Catherine. To add to the strangeness, she was a cousin of some sort to Anne Boleyn, and like Anne, she did not last long. Within 2 years she too, was beheaded. This time though, unlike Anne, her infidelity was proven by her own hand, in a love letter she had written, and was found. 

 The infamous "Letter"

  
We entered the hall of portraits, many done by the famous artist Hans Holbein.

Henry was a huge man, especially for the time. The average height for a man in the 1500's has been estimated at about 5'-5'4". Henry was about 6'2"! That would be an imposing figure! Add his girth (the measurement of his middle section) and according to his armor, it was about 54". The dude was big.

As a young man, he was very athletic and loved all sports, from jousting, to hunting, and even building an indoor tennis court in his palace.

 This is an old Nine Men's Morris board I spotted. It was carved into the window ledge, maybe by some bored guard or page, having to keep watch in a quiet hall.

Remember our conversation with the "King" and his comments about the "ugly" Spaniard? He told us to look for his portrait, if we didn't believe him. Well here he is: The Holy Roman Emperor Charles V: