Thomas Wolsey, the chancellor, and confidant of King Henry VIII had chosen a place on the north bank of the Thames. It is an easily accessible barge from London to build a new palace. This became Hampton Court, which Wolsey converted from a medieval manor house into the most important palace of the Tudor era.
However, King Wolsey had many enemies in court because of his unparalleled approach. In time, Henry, too, once doubted the power of his faithful adviser and wisely gifted him the palace in 1528. A year later, Henry began his own improvement program, which lasted about 10 years. The palace kitchen was expanded to cater to at least 600 people, and ‘royal’ tennis courts and bowling alleys were built along with beautiful gardens.
Hampton Court Palace Gardens
Henry VIII contributed to Britain’s desire for formal gardens. Henry’s private heraldic garden in Hampton Field was full of visual references to lions, dragons, and other symbolic beasts. The predominance of later royal gardeners continued. In the late 17th century, William and Mary Parter created two or two formal gardens, and in contrast, created a canal in Versailles. One of them is Privy Park. It has recently been carefully renovated.
The tradition of gardening continues to this day with the Hampton Court Flower and Vegetable Exhibition in July each year. Real tennis, sometimes referred to as ‘royal tennis’, is the original indoor racquet sport that has descended from the modern field of tennis. Henry VIII is said to be an avid player. The court is in a significant building for real tennis. It is wider and longer than a grass tennis court, with high walls and a ceiling on all four sides. There are small galleries for visitors around the walls. Unlike grass tennis, a butterfly enters the playing area and can shoot. Squash is like playing on the court walls.
