Hampton Court Palace

While Hampton Court is associated primarily with the Tudors, particularly Henry VIII, it is actually two castles that were home to monarchs of quite different eras and is built and decorated in quite different styles.  Here are a few pictures from our visit.  I'll post separately about the tour of the King's kitchens.

The entrance to Hampton Court Palace

The original structure was built by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, a religious advisor and member of the Privy Counsel of Henry VIII.  The castle was so grand that Henry became jealous.  To retain his head, Wolsey quickly gifted it to the King.  When he was unable to attain a divorce for the King from Queen Katherine, he was imprisoned and beheaded anyway.

If you look back to the initial picture, you will see that these statues on short columns flank

the entrance to the castle.

A shot from the inner courtyard where guests arrived and were greeted.

This shot looks back toward the front of the castle from the courtyard.  Note the many chimneys on the roof.  Henry was famous for his hospitality and his show of wealth.  The chimneys were to the many private rooms for guests at the front of the castle.  Each had its own fireplace and, of course, needed a chimney.

The chimneys, as you can see in this picture and the next, are quite beautiful with intricate brickwork.

We did not get many pictures of the gardens, but they were amazing. 

Loved these trees.