A building history

Hampton Court Palace from its humble medieval beginnings to the ‘grace-and-favour’ period and today

This is the story of two palaces: a Tudor palace, magnificently developed by Cardinal Wolsey and later Henry VIII, alongside a baroque palace built by William III and Mary II.

A history of Hampton Court's development...

Palace origins

1. From a large barn on the manor of Hampton to a courtier’s country house
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The Cardinal's works

2. Thomas Wolsey transforms, then loses Hampton Court Palace
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Magnificent Henry

3. Henry VIII transforms his favourite palace into one of England's most sophisticated.
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Henry's heirs

Hampton Court Palace
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The Stuarts

5. Hampton Court remains a pleasure during some turbulent times
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A new palace

6. William and Mary bring baroque architecture and style to Hampton Court
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The 18th century

7. Palace development from Queen Anne to the Hanoverians and the final royal visit
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Up to the present

8. From grace and favour to restoration to visitor attraction - and a fire in 1986!
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Further reading

9. Bibliography of Hampton Court Palace
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