During her reign, she undertook relatively few renovations or major building works, but spent considerable time at Kensington Palace. Initially, she used Kensington for recreation more than business, as she also spent time at Whitehall, St James’s Palace, Windsor and Hampton Court.
Though she did not initiate major works, the building was far from neglected. She did extend her apartments by the addition of several new rooms. And she ordered substantial quantities of new furniture for them, as well as for the apartments of her consort, Prince George of Denmark.
Anne’s Orangery
Kensington’s development under Anne was most visible in her alterations in the gardens. In the first few years of her reign, the Queen spent some £26,000 on improving them.
A number of garden buildings were constructed during her reign, some of which still survive. Her principal memorial is the Orangery, built in 1704-5 to the north of the palace. The building was supposed to serve as greenhouse for over-wintering exotic plant and citrus trees that ornamented the gardens in summer. Its accomplished interior decoration reflects the Orangery’s other uses as a ‘summer supper house’ and a place for entertainment.
