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Time Team Episode: Henry VIII's Lost Palaces

New Hall School・63 minutes read

Henry VIII was a prolific builder known for creating grand palaces, with Hampton Court being the only remaining Tudor palace today. The team explores multiple palaces built by Henry, uncovering his influences and the grandeur of his constructions.

Insights

  • Henry VIII's building projects, including Hampton Court Palace, aimed to showcase Tudor power and tradition, focusing on chivalry, heraldry, and impressing visitors with opulent exteriors and lavish accommodations.
  • The exploration at Hampton Court uncovered evidence of tower foundations, hinting at missing structures despite partial demolition, revealing the significant but often overlooked architectural legacy of Henry VIII, a prolific builder who transitioned the monarchy from medieval to modern through grand projects.

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Recent questions

  • What is Hampton Court Palace known for?

    History of Henry VIII's building projects.

  • How many palaces did Henry VIII own?

    55 palaces or hunting lodges.

  • What was the purpose of the Field of Cloth of Gold event?

    Showcase Henry VIII's grandeur.

  • What influenced Henry VIII's building projects?

    Inspiration from European architecture.

  • What was the significance of Bewley Palace?

    Henry VIII's first modern palace.

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Summary

00:00

"Exploring Henry VIII's Palaces and Influence"

  • Hampton Court Palace was created by Henry VIII, known for building five major palaces, with four now disappeared.
  • The team explores all five palaces, including the first one built by Henry, Bewley Palace, to uncover its true size.
  • Henry's inspiration for building is traced across Europe, with a focus on Hampton Court.
  • The team digs at Hampton Court to understand Henry's work there and his influences.
  • Henry VIII is known for more than just Hampton Court; he was a prolific builder and renovator.
  • Henry VIII transitioned the monarchy from medieval to modern, seen through his grand building projects.
  • Bewley Palace was Henry's first modern palace, built in 1517 in Essex, showcasing his desire for luxury.
  • The team uncovers the gatehouse at Bewley Palace, proving its massive size and grandeur.
  • Hampton Court, initially a small manor house owned by Cardinal Wolsey, was expanded by him and later by Henry.
  • Hampton Court's innovative design, like a corridor linking guest rooms, was revolutionary for its time.

15:28

"Royal Tudor Palaces: Henry VIII's Grandeur"

  • Tudor palaces typically have a specific layout: gatehouse, great hall, royal apartments.
  • Reference to King Henry having a sunken, heated bath at his palace.
  • Speculation on the location of the royal apartments at the palace.
  • Henry VIII owned 55 palaces or hunting lodges, a record for English monarchs.
  • Henry VIII preferred staying in his own houses rather than with courtiers.
  • Description of the Field of Cloth of Gold event in 1520, showcasing Henry's grandeur.
  • The temporary palace built for the Field of Cloth of Gold was a technological marvel.
  • Description of the palace built for Henry's stay at the Field of Cloth of Gold.
  • Discovery of Henry's palace site in Gean, France, and its grandeur.
  • Excavation at Hampton Court Palace to uncover Tudor parts and towers.

31:37

"Exploring Hampton Court's Tudor Tower Foundations"

  • The exploration at Hampton Court involves digging in three areas: under the patio, on the lawn opposite the standing tower, and along a wall connected to the standing tower.
  • The small towers in the tilt yard may have served as changing rooms for competing teams in jousting or mock battles, with the central tower showcasing the palace's magnificence and offering views of the estate.
  • Hampton Court's Tudor section saw significant expansion under Cardinal Wolsey and later Henry VIII, who focused on building lavish accommodations and kitchens capable of feeding up to a thousand people.
  • Henry VIII's obsession with building at Hampton Court led to the creation of the magnificent Great Hall and the acquisition of valuable tapestries, which were considered as precious as warships.
  • The tapestries, made of gold and silver threads, were once vibrant and complemented by a tiled floor and a ceiling painted with blue beasts, creating an immersive experience.
  • The exploration at the tilt yard reveals mixed results, with some evidence of tower foundations found under a patio and along a wall, hinting at the former grandeur of the site.
  • Henry's construction projects at Hampton Court aimed to showcase Tudor power and tradition, with a focus on chivalry, heraldry, and impressing visitors with colorful and opulent exteriors.
  • Henry's building projects at Hampton Court were tied to his marriages and the need to provide for his heirs, with significant additions made after the birth of his son Edward.
  • After three days of digging, evidence of tower foundations is discovered, indicating the presence of missing towers at the site, despite their partial demolition in the late 17th century.
  • The limited remains of the towers suggest that their materials were likely recycled, explaining the scarcity of visible structures from the original construction.

46:46

"Lost Tudor Palaces and Henry VIII's Legacy"

  • Henry VIII was a prolific builder, with four of his major palaces lost to history.
  • Hampton Court Palace, the only Tudor palace remaining, has lost much of Henry's work.
  • The tilt yard at Hampton Court, where tournaments were held, has undergone changes over the years.
  • A lost part of Henry's palace at Hampton Court, possibly a bowling alley, is being sought.
  • The discovery of a Tudor bowling alley at Hampton Court sheds light on Tudor sports.
  • The length of the discovered bowling alley at Hampton Court is 60 meters, three times longer than modern alleys.
  • Whitehall Palace, Henry's largest palace, was a joint project with Anne Boleyn.
  • Whitehall Palace encompassed living quarters and a fun area, including a tilt yard and entertainment complex.
  • Henry VIII's legacy includes vast green spaces around his palaces, still enjoyed today.
  • Henry's interest in the Italian Renaissance influenced the decoration of his buildings, like the terracotta roundels at Hampton Court.

01:02:25

Henry VIII's Renaissance Palaces: A Magnificent Legacy

  • Acton Court was built in an Italian style for Henry's visit in 1535, with workmen possibly hired from Henry's court to decorate the interior to please the king.
  • Magnificence was crucial for Renaissance princes like Henry, symbolizing power and political ascendancy.
  • Henry appreciated grandeur from his early twenties, evident in the construction of Bewley Palace at 25.
  • The chapel at Bewley Palace, built by Henry VIII, showcased early adoption of European architectural principles.
  • William Bolton, a surveyor, applied geometric principles in designing Henry's palaces, emphasizing rationality and order.
  • Non-such Palace, Henry's last great work, epitomized Italian Renaissance architecture and interior decoration.
  • Non-such Palace's extravagant adornments reflected Henry's embrace of the Renaissance, with stucco figures and intricate designs.
  • Non-such Palace resembled Palazzo Spada in Rome, showcasing classical figures and elaborate stucco work, symbolizing power and magnificence.
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