The Home of the Duke of Northumberland and no crowds of youngsters like yesterday. It was here in 1553 that Lady Jane Grey was proclaimed Queen here in the Long gallery by her uncle the 1st Duke.
Situated right on the river Thames opposite Kew gardens and where the river is still tidal. The place is steeped in History. It was founded by Henry V in 1415 as a Brigettine Abbey. You can see the medieval crypt under the house and learn more about the history of the building. It came into royal possession as part of the dissolution in 1539 and was given to the 1st Duke by Edward VI. Catherine of Aragon came here often and Anne Boleyn railed against the Abbess and nuns for their wonton behaviour.
Catherine Howard was held here after her arrest a few miles upriver at Hampton Court Palace and whilst Henry VII decided what to do with her. Queen Victoria as a princess grew up here and her rooms are still intact.
The place is staying open while there is major works going on to repair the roof. After a walk around the gardens and the huge glass conservatory which was studied and used as the inspiration behind the Crystal Palace exhibition in 1851 we took our leave to travel to Windsor.
Arriving in plenty of time to attend evensong in the magnificent St Georges Chapel we walked straight in through Henry VIII’s gate. It was great to just walk past the police and say we were going to a service and the reply of “yes sir, just through there.”
We were treated to visiting choir from Ealing and Hammersmith Girls School and they sang beautifully their voices really soaring in the ancient chapel. We came away uplifted from the experience and knowing that a similar service has been performed there for 500 years
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