Richmond Palace, located in the London Borough of Richmond-Upon-Thames, was built in 1497 by King Henry VII on the site of the former Sheen Palace, which was destroyed by fire. The area was first the site of a manor. It came into royal hands during the reign of King Henry I, who granted it to a knight. It was then returned to King Edward II. King Edward III enlarged the manor, which became the first Sheen Palace. Sheen Palace was the favorite home of King Richard II and his wife Anne of Bohemia. Although their marriage was arranged, it became a love match. After Anne’s death in 1394, a grief-stricken Richard ordered the destruction of the palace.
King Henry V commissioned the palace rebuilt and the work was continued by his son, King Henry VI. King Edward IV gave the palace to his queen, Elizabeth Woodville, who held it for a brief time after the defeat of Richard III in the Wars of the Roses. Elizabeth then gave the castle to the new king, Henry VII.
Richmond Palace
After fire destroyed most of the second Sheen Palace, Henry ordered the new palace, which used the same ground plan as the second Sheen Palace. It still had the appearance of a 15th century castle, built in white stone, with a number of round towers. The palace was rectangular, three stories tall. In addition to royal lodgings, the palace also contained staterooms and accommodations for palace officials. Henry VII and his court celebrated Christmas at the new palace in 1497.
In 1501, Henry changed to name of the palace to Richmond Palace because both he and his father were Earls of Richmond. Richmond Palace was the site of many important events in Henry’s reign. In 1501 Prince Arthur and Catherine of Aragon stayed at Richmond Palace after their wedding in London. In 1503, Henry’s eldest daughter, Margaret, was betrothed to King James IV of Scotland at the palace. This union was the start of the Stuart dynasty. In 1509, Henry died at Richmond Palace.
Henry VIII
Shortly after he became king, King Henry VIII married his brother’s widow, Catherine of Aragon. In 1510, Catherine gave birth to a son, Henry, at Richmond Palace. Among much celebration, he was christened at the palace, but died a month later. Richmond soon became a home for Henry’s discarded queens. Catherine and her daughter, Mary, were at Richmond Palace when Henry married Anne Boleyn in 1533.
It was later given to Henry’s fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, as part of her divorce settlement.
Elizabeth I
Both Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I stayed at Richmond, particularly Elizabeth, who used the palace as a winter home. Elizabeth frequently celebrated Christmas and Shrovetide at Richmond. The palace was the first building to be equipped with a flush toilet, which was invented by Elizabeth’s godson, Sir John Harrington. Elizabeth died at Richmond Palace on March 24, 1603.
The Stuarts
King James I gave the palace to his eldest son, Henry, for use as a country retreat. Henry drew up plans to remodel the gardens and palace, but died 1612 before the plans were completed. His brother, Charles, later King Charles I continued to add to his brother’s art collection, but there were no plans for architectural improvements. Once Charles became king, Richmond was used as a home for his children.
After the execution of Charles I in 1649, Richmond Palace was sold by the Commonwealth Parliament. The new owners divided up the palace buildings, demolishing many of the buildings and selling the bricks. When King Charles II was restored in 1660, only a couple of buildings remained. The palace became the property of Charles’s brother, James, Duke of York, later King James II. James’s children, including his daughters Mary and Anne, were raised at Richmond. His son, James Edward, also known as ‘the Old Pretender,’ was nursed at the palace.
Richmond Today
After James’s abdication in 1689, the palace was leased to a number of people. In the eighteenth century, the crumbling brick buildings were replaced by new houses. Today the palace is open to visitors.
Sources:
London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames “Richmond Palace” (accessed May 11, 2010)
Pastscape “Richmond Palace” (accessed May 11, 2010)
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