Hampton Court Palace

Yesterday I went to Hampton Court Palace, which is the last remaining palace from the era of the Tudor's rule, who took over the monarchy in the 16th Century.  It was built by the infamous King Henry VIII who had six wives and had two of them beheaded.  

We entered the palace from the West Gates which lead into the main 

courtyard.  The look of the castle was beautiful.  It is a traditional "tudor" style that has carried into our architecture today.  The Tudor's insisted on establishing their dominance and proving their right to the thrown, both to themselves and to the country.  King Henry VIII was a very extravagant king.  His court included roughly 1,000 men, women, and servants which was a staggering number.  Most of them were housed at Hampton Court Palace.  Here is a picture o

f the West Gate. 

            

After entering the West Gate, we found ourselves in the General Courtyard.  In old England, a court as massive as King Henry VIII had its own social hierarchy.  The General Courtyard was  a place for servants and the lower aristocrats to spend their time.  

General Courtyard

Next, is the Inner Courtyard, which is called the "Clock Courtyard" at Hampton Court Palace, because it is adorned with a spectacular clock made by a German c

lockmaker and a Swiss Astronomer. 

Clock Courtyard

The clock, which tells the day, time, the month, moon cycle, and current tide on the Thames River. 

There were lots of pictures that I took throughout the castle.  Here are a few of the best. 

The main dining hall.

Giant hand-woven tapestries in the dining hall. 

A portrait of King Henry VIII with Jane Seymour, one of his late wives who he murdered.  On the right is Queen Elizabeth (before she was a queen) who was mothered by Anne Boleyn.  To his left is his only male heir, who died at age 15, thus yielding the throne to Elizabeth.

                                              

The arms hall.  Those are all guns. 

Murals on the walls going up the grand staircase into King Henry VIII's living quarters.

                                             

The ceiling of the King's private bedroom.

The King's private dining quarters with portraits of all of the duchesses and ladies.

The outside of the castle where the moat used to be.  The moat was actually just for looks because this was a "leisure" palace and had no need for major defenses.