Hampton Court Palace, March 2004

A view inside one of the Tudor Kitchens that fed the court of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I at Hampton Court Palace, located just outside of London, England.

A view inside one of the Tudor Kitchens that fed the court of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I at Hampton Court Palace, located just outside of London, England.

A view inside one of the Tudor Kitchens that fed the court of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I at Hampton Court Palace, located just outside of London, England.

A view inside one of the Tudor Kitchens that fed the court of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I at Hampton Court Palace, located just outside of London, England.

A view inside one of the Tudor Kitchens that fed the court of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I at Hampton Court Palace, located just outside of London, England.

Fountain Court Fountain Court was designed by Sir Christopher Wren for William III to replace Henry VIII's courtyard which stood on the same site. Above the arched cloisters are the tall windows of the State Apartments. The smaller square windows at attic level lit lodgings provided for important courtiers. Carved frames in the form of lion skins surround the circular windows and on the south side the wreaths frame 12 panels which depict (now much faded) the Labours of Hercules, painted by the French artist Louis Laguerre in 1691-4. Text from: www.hrp.org.uk/webcode/content.asp?ID=418

Fountain Court Fountain Court was designed by Sir Christopher Wren for William III to replace Henry VIII's courtyard which stood on the same site. Above the arched cloisters are the tall windows of the State Apartments. The smaller square windows at attic level lit lodgings provided for important courtiers. Carved frames in the form of lion skins surround the circular windows and on the south side the wreaths frame 12 panels which depict (now much faded) the Labours of Hercules, painted by the French artist Louis Laguerre in 1691-4. Text from: www.hrp.org.uk/webcode/content.asp?ID=418

The East Front and South Front The exterior of Sir Christopher Wren's building at Hampton Court is probably the best and most famous expression of the Baroque style in England. The magnificent East and South fronts, built in red brick with Portland stone carvings, were intended to rival Louis XIV's rebuilding of Versailles. The great stone centrepiece, the focal point for the design of the East Front, is surmounted by a giant pediment containing Caius Gabriel Cibber's relief of Hercules triumphing over Envy. Great Corinthian columns support the pediment and flank the three windows of the Queen's Drawing Room. Over the middle window is a symbolic composition of trumpet, sceptre and crown, incorporating William and Mary's monogram. Over the centre window of the South Front a trophy of arms with the Latin inscription Gulielmus et Maria Rex et Regina Fecerunt records the building of the new palace by William and Mary and highlights the Privy Chamber within, the most important ceremonial room in the palace. Text from: www.hrp.org.uk/webcode/content.asp?ID=418

THE EAST GARDENS In Henry VIII's time, this area [of Hampton Court Palace] was parkland but was gradually enclosed by the Stuarts and under William III was laid out as a great semicircular parterre with 12 marble fountains. Queen Anne (1702-14) added the surrounding semicircular canals in 1710. The Great Fountain Garden The Great Fountain Garden, as it is now known, has been much simplified since then and although many of the yew trees date from 1707, the overall layout is predominantly Victorian. Text from: www.historicroyalpalaces.org/webcode/content.asp?ID=417#a...

The Privy Garden The Privy Garden, the king's private garden [at Hampton Court Palace], has recently been restored to the way it appeared when it was completed for William III in 1702, using the same varieties of plants that were originally in the garden. Separating the garden from the river is an ornamental ironwork screen by the French blacksmith, Jean Tijou, which is currently being restored. Text from: www.historicroyalpalaces.org/webcode/content.asp?ID=417#a...

The Privy Garden The Privy Garden, the king's private garden [at Hampton Court Palace], has recently been restored to the way it appeared when it was completed for William III in 1702, using the same varieties of plants that were originally in the garden. Separating the garden from the river is an ornamental ironwork screen by the French blacksmith, Jean Tijou, which is currently being restored. Text from: www.historicroyalpalaces.org/webcode/content.asp?ID=417#a...

The Privy Garden The Privy Garden, the king's private garden [at Hampton Court Palace], has recently been restored to the way it appeared when it was completed for William III in 1702, using the same varieties of plants that were originally in the garden. Separating the garden from the river is an ornamental ironwork screen by the French blacksmith, Jean Tijou, which is currently being restored. Text from: www.historicroyalpalaces.org/webcode/content.asp?ID=417#a...

The Privy Garden The Privy Garden, the king's private garden [at Hampton Court Palace], has recently been restored to the way it appeared when it was completed for William III in 1702, using the same varieties of plants that were originally in the garden. Separating the garden from the river is an ornamental ironwork screen by the French blacksmith, Jean Tijou, which is currently being restored. Text from: www.historicroyalpalaces.org/webcode/content.asp?ID=417#a...

Lower Orangery The Lower Orangery [of Hampton Court Palace] was originally built to house Mary II's collection of botanical specimens. More recently it was converted into a gallery to display Andrea Mantegna's Triumphs of Caesar. Text from: www.historicroyalpalaces.org/webcode/content.asp?ID=417#a...

Lower Orangery The Lower Orangery [of Hampton Court Palace] was originally built to house Mary II's collection of botanical specimens. More recently it was converted into a gallery to display Andrea Mantegna's Triumphs of Caesar. Text from: www.historicroyalpalaces.org/webcode/content.asp?ID=417#a...