Henry VIII and Hampton Court Palace

13.09.2009

Hampton Court Palace was started building in 1514 for Cardinal Wolsey

I told you about this palace on your latest English lesson...
that's why I'd really like you to see what Hampton Court looks like :o)

In the beginning, Cardinal Wolsey was one of Henry VIII's favourites... but as he couldn't help accomplish the divorce between the King and Catherine of Aragon (his first wife) he fell from grace.

Hoping to regain the King's favour, the Cardinal then presented him his palace... But this failed too : in the late 1520's, Henry VIII finally kept it !

The above photo shows Anne Boleyn's Gateway and the Great Hall from Base Court.
Henry's had his second wife executed for adultery : today, Anne Boleyn is said to be one of the ghosts in the palace, hence her haunting Hampton Court corridors.

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The Fountain Court by Christopher Wren (a famous English architect)
who modernized Hampton Court from 1689 to 1702.
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The south front and flower gardens
This photo highlights Hampton Court's huge size.
Nowadays it is open to the public and has become a major tourist attraction.

The British royal family hasn't lived in the royal palace since the 18th century. Located south west London, it is 11.7 miles (18.8 km) south west of Charing Cross and upstream of Central London on the River Thames.

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ca. = circa = about / approximately
(to) fall from grace = do something which makes people in authority stop liking you or admiring you
hence = that is the reason/explanation for located = situated
upstream = en amont d'un cours d'eau (stream = courant)

(1) http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevecadman/with/840772706/ : Photos licensed under the Creative Commons BY-NC-SA by Stevecadman