28 June 2016 - Chertsey Club Site, Surrey

Hampton Court

Today dawned as brightly as yesterday although we knew this was not to last. Despite a rather later than usual rising, we were on the road very soon after 9am, and found our way through to Hampton Court so very easily. Parking was also a doddle apart from the fact we were not sure how long we needed to enjoy the palace, so decided that six hours should cover all bases. At £1.50 an hour, we thought the required £7.50 rather extreme, but should have been more open minded and paid for a further hour; we did not allow ourselves enough time!

As it turned out we were still a few minutes early, and the second party into the court. We spent our time exploring Henry VIII’s apartments, his court kitchen and the story of a young and happier Henry before he was deranged by injury pain and stress to provide a spare heir to the throne, the Georgian story and the Cumberland Art Gallery, which covered most of the areas open to the public, although the gardens, splendid through the upstairs windows, were neglected much to my disappointment. 

Had we not chosen to attend one of the entertainments, we may have managed to fit everything in, but then an hour spent in an interactive drama, re-enacting the demise of Queen Catherine in November 1541, being part of the Queen’s palace staff caught up in the scandal and subsequent arraignment was absolutely fascinating, and highly entertaining, if such tragedy can be considered so.

Hampton Court was actually built by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey in the early 1500s, he whose statue I encountered in Ipswich many weeks ago. Alas he fell out of favour and his one-time best buddy, Henry VIII seized the palace for himself. Given the turbulent life of that many married monarch, the palace saw great drama, both political and personal, and much of that was relayed to us today via an excellent audio guide.

Substantial alterations were made by William III, over a hundred years later, and King George II was the last monarch to actually reside here. It is a fabulous place and well managed for the tourist trade, and of course we have all seen it in cameos in various movies over the years. I just wish we had allowed ourselves a bit more time!

The rain stayed away long enough for us to travel back effortlessly on these unfamiliar roads in the outskirts of London, and did not bother us until the televised tennis was disrupted at Wimbledon.