Today on a breezy but dry and a little sunny day we visited Hampton Court Palace, the legendary Palace that is the only one left standing from the 60 palaces and castles and built or in this case confiscated from Cardinal Wolsey by Henry VIII.
We had no traffic problems getting there and were for the very first time in my life the first one through the doors at 9.45. It's great getting there so early that there were largely no other toursts about for the first hour.
To our surprise the base court and clock court had been completely transformed into a medieval market scene featuring stalls with hides, animals(stuffed)of all types and poultry. The reason for this transformation was the filming of a new Disney Film "Jack the Giant Killer" starring Ewan McGreggor, we didn't see any filming going on but we did see some interpretive drama playlets around the Palace.
The players put on a great drama with gossip about who the king will marry next after Catherine Howard, Sssshhh don't mention her name. We were in the Great Hall trying to listen to Mistress Penn with about 100 or so 9 year olds on school trips sitting and working at the tables when the King walked in and within 15 seconds the place was absolutely silent you could hear a pin drop. All the kids looked agog and even their teachers were amazed.
The kitchens had one of the log fires blazing, you could smell the woodsmoke from the Carpenters court. It gave you a great feeling of what is was like to work in the Kitchens. Unfortunately the Real Tennis court wasn't open, but the gardens were still very colourful with all the spring flowers. All in all a great visit.
After Hampton Court we travelled to Windsor ready to visit the castle. The driver was kind enough to divert a little to pass the Magna Carta Memorial at Runnymede along side the Thames. We got here early enough to attend Evensong. We were really lucky to have the boys choir singing, it was so beautiful that one woman sitting on the opposit side was in tears.
A very good day with the tour progressing well. Tomrrow it's the Castle and Oxford.
Thursday 31 March 2011
Six Wives of One King- Syon House
On a rainy afternoon we visited Syon House on the Thames 10 miles from the centre of London.
One of the benefits of rain is that it keeps the tourists away, so consequently we had the House almods to ourselves. The room stewards or Dosens as the American call them were only too delighted to talk to you and point out things that you would just walk on by.
We were especially pleased to be allowed over the rope on a couple of occasions to view portraits and they showed us a family portrait painted by Gilbert Stuart a very important US artist. Of course with the room stewards, they are very knowlegeable and to ask them about a portrait you can't quite see on a quiet day makes their day.
The House is built on a medieval monastary started by Henry V in 1415 as a Brigetine Order and features prominantly in the Tudor Century. It was where Catherine Howard was incarcerated after her arrest and before she was taken to the Tower of London. Lady Jane Grey was proclaimed Queen in the Long Gallery here. Catherine of Aragon, pious lady that she was, came here often to make her devotions. Anne Boleyn, fired into the Nuns for their wanton incontinence ( wicked behaviour ) and the place suffered the dissolution.
There are also some medieval out buildings used now as offices and shops and there is a Victorian great Conservatory that was used as the model for the Crystal Palace exhibition. A good day and a gentle start to the Six wives tour.
One of the benefits of rain is that it keeps the tourists away, so consequently we had the House almods to ourselves. The room stewards or Dosens as the American call them were only too delighted to talk to you and point out things that you would just walk on by.
We were especially pleased to be allowed over the rope on a couple of occasions to view portraits and they showed us a family portrait painted by Gilbert Stuart a very important US artist. Of course with the room stewards, they are very knowlegeable and to ask them about a portrait you can't quite see on a quiet day makes their day.
The House is built on a medieval monastary started by Henry V in 1415 as a Brigetine Order and features prominantly in the Tudor Century. It was where Catherine Howard was incarcerated after her arrest and before she was taken to the Tower of London. Lady Jane Grey was proclaimed Queen in the Long Gallery here. Catherine of Aragon, pious lady that she was, came here often to make her devotions. Anne Boleyn, fired into the Nuns for their wanton incontinence ( wicked behaviour ) and the place suffered the dissolution.
There are also some medieval out buildings used now as offices and shops and there is a Victorian great Conservatory that was used as the model for the Crystal Palace exhibition. A good day and a gentle start to the Six wives tour.
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