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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Hampton Court Palace
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(24km/15m SW of central London)
Built by Cardinal *Wolsey in 1514–21 to be the most impressive house in England (some 280 beds were kept available for strangers), it was given by him to *Henry VIII a few years later, in 1528, in an attempt to retain the royal favour. Of Wolsey's creation the first two courts survive (the Base Court and Clock Court). Henry built the present Great Hall, much embellished the Chapel and placed the *King's Beasts at the entrance to the first court.
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In 1689 *William III and Mary wanted something more modern. They commissioned *Wren, who added very rapidly (by 1694) the south and east fronts round the Fountain Court, linking them to the Tudor palace by the continuing use of red brick. The interiors were not complete until well into the next century. The outstanding feature is the King's Staircase, for which the Italian artist Antonio Verrio began painting the illusionistic murals in 1700. After the death of George II, in 1760, the palace was never again used as a royal residence. Queen Victoria opened it to the public in 1838. A fire considerably damaged the 17C King's Apartments in 1986, but they were restored and open again by 1992.
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The gardens contain a *real-tennis court; a famous Maze, created in the 1690s for William III; the Great Vine, planted in 1768 and still flourishing; and, round the Privy Garden, the most splendid display of wrought iron in Britain, the 12-panel screen made in about 1693 by the French Huguenot blacksmith Jean Tijou.
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