| Palace of Placentia | |
|---|---|
_(14786307743).jpg) The Palace of Placentia, after it was rebuilt around 1500 byHenry VII | |
| Coordinates | 51°28′56″N0°0′24″W / 51.48222°N 0.00667°W /51.48222; -0.00667 |
| Built | 1443 |
| Built for | Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester |
| Rebuilt | 1498-1504; 1660 |
  Location of Palace of Placentia in Royal Borough of Greenwich | |
ThePalace of Placentia, also known asGreenwich Palace,[1]was anEnglish royal residence that was initially built by princeHumphrey, Duke of Gloucester, in 1443.[2][3] Over the centuries it took several different forms, until it was turned into a hospital in the 1690s. The palace was a place designed for pleasure, entertainment and an escape from the city.[4] It was located atGreenwich on the south bank of theRiver Thames, downstream fromLondon.
On a hill behind his palace, the duke built Duke Humphrey's Tower, later known asGreenwich Castle; the "castle" was subsequently demolished to make way for theRoyal Observatory, Greenwich, which survives. The original river-side residence was extensively rebuilt around 1500 by KingHenry VII. A detached residence, theQueen's House, was built on the estate in the early 1600s and also survives. In 1660, the old main palace was demolished byCharles II to make way for a proposed new palace, which was only partly constructed in the east wing. Nearly forty years later, at the behest of QueenMary II, theGreenwich Hospital (now called theOld Royal Naval College) remodeled this wing, expanded, and rebuilt on the site.
Humphrey was regent during the minority ofHenry VI (his nephew) and started building the palace in 1433,[3] under the name Bella Court.[5] In 1447, Humphrey fell out of favour with Henry VI and was arrested forhigh treason. He died in prison, likely due to a stroke, though it was popularly believed that he was murdered[6] (as is depicted inWilliam Shakespeare's plays about Henry VI).Margaret of Anjou took over Bella Court, renaming it the Palace of Placentia, sometimes written as the 'Palace of Pleasaunce'.[5]
In 1485,Edward IV gave land and property adjacent to the palace for the foundation of a friary by theObservant Friars (a branch of theFranciscans).[7] The friars' church was used for royal baptisms and marriages, including the christenings of the future queensMary I andElizabeth I. However, the friars were persecuted during theEnglish Reformation and finally expelled by Elizabeth I in 1559.[8]
In the next centuries, the name "Greenwich Palace" was commonly used.Henry VII rebuilt the palace between 1498 and 1504. The master mason wasRobert Vertue. The design included new plans or "platt of Greenwich which was devised by the Queen", which highlights the key contribution ofElizabeth of York for the rebuild. The King's lodgings were on the bank of the Thames, including a five-storey tower or donjon. The tower and lodgings seem to have derived from Burgundian precedents such as the (now demolished) Ducal Palace atGhent and the Princehof atBruges.[9] Greenwich remained the principal royal palace for the next two centuries.[5]
The palace was the birthplace ofHenry VIII in 1491, and it figured largely in his life.[10] Following the King's marriage toCatherine of Aragon, Greenwich Palace was the birthplace of Mary I in 1516.[11]
After Henry VIII's marriage toAnne Boleyn, his daughter, later Elizabeth I, was born at Greenwich Palace in 1533.[12] New wooden coops were made for the peacocks and a pelican, further from the palace, as their calls disturbed Anne Boleyn in the mornings.[13] Henry VIII marriedAnne of Cleves at Greenwich in 1540. A fallen tree inGreenwich Park is known asQueen Elizabeth's Oak, in which she is reputed to have played as a child.[14]
Both Mary and Elizabeth lived at Greenwich Palace for some years during the sixteenth century, but during the reigns ofJames I andCharles I, theQueen's House was erected to the south of the palace.[15] When James I ordered the redecoration of the chapel in May 1623 it had not been refurbished since the reign of Mary I.[16] The palace fell into disrepair during theEnglish Civil War, serving time as a biscuit factory and aprisoner-of-war camp.[15][17]
In 1660, Charles II decided to rebuild the palace, engagingJohn Webb as the architect for a new King's House.[18] The only section of the new building to be completed was the east range of the present King Charles Court, but this was never occupied as aroyal residence.[18] Most of the rest of the palace was demolished, and the site remained empty until construction of theGreenwich Hospital began in 1694.[18]
The palace at Greenwich was built in theTudor style. Although the structure is no longer standing, the size and design of Greenwich Palace were said to be similar to that ofHampton Court Palace in west London, which was built around the same time asHenry VII's rebuild of Placentia.[19]
The original building was constructed primarily with brick and timber.[20] The initial palace design had state apartments, a chapel, a five-storey viewing tower, and two octagonal towers overlooking thetiltyard.[21] The chapel, which was rebuilt by Henry VIII, featured stained-glass windows and black-and-white glazed tiles.[22] The main face of the building looked out over the river Thames. It extended along 200m of the bank of the river and was accessible by boat. Piles from the original Tudor-era jetty remain today.[23] Its red-brick exterior showcased the monarchy's wealth as the material was expensive to manufacture and considered an extravagance.[24] Aside from chapel renovations,Henry VIII also added an armoury, stables, and a banquet hall to the original palace.[4]
During the early 17th century, as the palace was being rebuilt,Anne of Denmark commissioned several buildings including theQueen's House, three rooms along the garden,[4] and a grotto aviary to be built in the gardens. The aviary was designed bySalomon de Caus, a French architect and engineer. It was ornately decorated with pearls and shells and was covered in moss.[21] The only surviving building of the 17th-century additions to the palace is the Queen's House. This building, designed by architectInigo Jones, is of particular architectural and historical significance as it is often credited as being the first classical building in England, and was a clear departure from the Tudor style.[25]
Archeological work in 2017 gave new insight into the architecture of the old palace. One of the more notable findings was lead-glazed tiles. These tiles were probably used as the flooring for the service areas such as the kitchen.[19]
The Greenwich Hospital complex became theGreenwich Royal Naval College in 1873, when the naval college was moved fromPortsmouth.[26] The buildings are today occupied by theUniversity of Greenwich and the music faculty ofTrinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.[17][27]
Construction work for drains in late 2005 identified previously unknown Tudor remains. A full archaeological excavation completed in January 2006 found the Tudor Chapel and Vestry with its tiled floorin situ.[28] The vestry of the old palace was not demolished and later became the home of the treasurer of Greenwich Hospital.[29]
During construction of the visitors' centre for the painted hall in 2017, two more Tudor palace rooms were uncovered. One room contained bee holes for keeping hives in the winter. The other was believed to be part of the service range.[19]
