The View Through My Eyes

A day at Hampton Court Palace

The Palace as seen from the driveway.
This is the older, Tudor facade of the building.


The Palace as seen from the Privy Garden (the river side).
Here you are seeing the Georgian facade. You can just see the tall chimneys of the Tudor building at the left.


Brett & Rosie heading for the Tiltyard Tea Room
On arrival at any stately home, though, the first thing you must do is visit the restaurant/coffee room. There the friendly staff will help relieve you of your money while you plan what to see first. £11.95 for a sandwich, juice, water and strawberries & cream! Jeez! It's a good job the rest of the day was good value for money.


Chimneys & Heraldic Beasts
Henry VIII certainly liked his chimneys. If I recall my 'O' Level History though, I think they were a status symbol, being quite new and fashionable in the 1500s.
The Heraldic Beasts are to be found all over the Palace. They are sculptures of some of the creatures traditionally used as Supporters to Coats of Arms. At the main entrance to the Palace they are all holding shields bearing the Arms of prominent families. Here, they appear to be holding halberds.
This view is taken from the Tudor kitchens complex.


View from the Palace down towards the Great Fountain Garden.
After doing all of the Palace tours, we headed out into the gardens. Once there, the first thing that you have to do is try the famous Maze!



We survived and made it to the middle of the maze. This is Brett and I relaxing at the centre.



One of the sunken Pond Gardens.



Elizabeth Regina wuz 'ere!



Some very ornate gilded fencing at the river-end of the Privy Garden. They were done in sets of five. Here you see the Tudor Rose for England but there was also the Harp of Ireland, the Thistle of Scotland and something I'm guessing was either a daffodil or a leek for Wales, as well as the badge of the Order of the Garter.

posted by Liam @ 20:39