Law, Ernest; Robertson, Arthur [Ill.]: Hampton Court Palace: etchings (London, [ca. 1900])

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GATE-HOUSE IN THE WEST FRONT OF WOLSEY'S PALACE.

""T"*HE chief entrance to Hampton Court Palace is still through the Archway of the Gate-house in the west front of the
No. 1. Palace, shown in this etching. Though part of Wolsey's original structure, it is now much disfigured by being
reduced two storeys in height—an alteration that took place when the gate-house was repaired at the end of last century.
In front of this gateway was formerly a moat which has long since been filled up.
BY THE NORTH CLOISTER.
^ 2 ' J^HIS picturesque corner of the old Tudor Palace was formerly devoted to the various household offices of the Court, It
lies on the north side of the first court. The archway on the left leads to the North Cloister, to the kitchens, and
to the back stairs of Henry VIII's Great Hall, the parapet and roof of which appear above the gables.
THE FISH COURT.
AMONG the many curious old nooks and corners in the Tudor Palace, none is more picturesque than the "Fish Court,"
so called on account of its proximity to the Fish Kitchen of Cardinal Wolsey's and Henry VIII's Palace. The
buildings on either side contain on the ground floor some of the ancient osfices, and in the upper storeys some of the rooms
sor the enormous household maintained by the Kings and Queens of England in the olden time.
ANNE BOLEYN'S GATEWAY.
J T was during Anne Boleyn's short reign of three years that this gateway was built and the beautiful fan-groin ceiling
jj0 3 carved. In the quatre-foils of the central circular panel, is her badge, the falcon, and also her initial entwined with
Henry VIII's in a true lover's knot. By the time the carver reached the decoration of the Great Hall, the true lover's
knot had to link King Henry's initial with that os Jane Seymour. Ou the right hand, through the archway, is seen
Wren's Colonade, which forms the entrance to the suite of State Apartments built by him for William III.
THE GREAT HALL.
TJ EX MY VIII, and not Wolsey, as is still sometimes erroniously stated, was the builder of this truly magnificent room,
S. which from its size, its height, its splendid and elaborate roof, its stained glass windows, and its beautiful tapestries,
is the most gorgeous extant example of the internal decoration of a Tudor Palace. It has been the scene, during the last
three centuries and a half, of numerous historical and convivial scenes. By Henry VIII it was chiefly used for grand
functions of state, banquets, and receptions of ambassadors, and also for masquerades and mummerings; and many a time
the bluff old king has sat in state on the dais, or danced with Jane Seymour and Catherine Howard. Here also Queen
Elizabeth, James I, and Charles II gave grand entertainments, and Shakespeare's plays were often performed here during
his lifetime, and probably under his personal superintendence.
IN TliE CLOISTER OF THE FOUNTAIN COURT.
'"T^HE open arcaded cloister that surrounds the Fountain Court of Sir Christopher Wren's new building at Hampton Court
No. 6. is one of the most taking features in the Palace. The area of the Court, with its large basin (the fountain in which
is frequently playing), its fresh grass-plat and its bright flower beds, ever presents a cool and pleasing appearance.
Above this cloister are the state rooms.
EAST FRONT OF WILLIAM Ill's PALACE.
rT",HIS, the principal facade os the new building erected by Wren for William III, though only partly seen here, extends
7. jn length from north to south 330 feet, and contains on the first floor the chief state rooms of the Palace, The three
windows, flanked by four fluted columns, are those of Queen Anne's Drawing Eoom.
In the foreground is a fountain, recently placed here, and on either side are seen the rows of fine old yew trees planted
in the reign of William III.

THE SUN-DIAL STEPS IN THE PRIVY GARDEN.
^TANDING on this spot we have a glimpse of the old Privy Gardens of the Palace just as it looked in the days of William
g III or Queen Anne. In the centre, at the top of the steps, is the old sun-dial, which has stood in this position since
William Ill's time ; and on either side are two aloes, which formed part of Queen Mary's collection of rare plants. The
lofty building on the right is the south-west angle of Wren's new palace, the three lopg windows on the first floor being
those of the King's Guard Chamber.
ENTRANCE TO THE POND GARDEN.
tj EES we see the old gateway in the wall, of the time of William III, which separates the Privy Garden from the Pond
No. 9. A Garden. It lies exactly at the point of junction of William Ill's Palace and the old Tudor building, the portion of
which here seen was formerly occupied by Queen Elizabeth. More to the left appears one of the old turrets with its
decorated cupola of lead,
VIEW FROM THE RIVER THAMES.
'" |-HE principle feature in this etching is the South Front of William Ill's new palace, a massive rectangular pile of red
|q brick with stone dressings, built by Sir Christopher Wren in 1689, and containing the finest suite of state apartments
of any Koyal Palace in England. Adjoining to the left-hand or south-west corner of this building is visible the irregular
outline, much obscured by trees, of portions of what remains of the Old Tudor Palace built by Cardinal Wolsey in 1515.
Close to the river, in the same direction, is a small square building called the Banqueting House built for William III in
1700.
Between the Towing-path and the Palace lies the old Privy Garden, laid out in its pjresent form by Charles II, though
it has undergone alterations in the reigns of William III, Queen Anne, and George II. On the right is the terrace, the end
of which is known by the name of " The Water Gallery." It stands on the site of Henry VIII's old water-gate, the river
entrance to the Palace in former times.