Did you know that...
This KT8 area takes the name of the 16th-century Hampton Court Palace, however, the manor of Hampton has existed since way earlier. The Domesday Book records this agricultural settlement that had connections with the royal house. In the 13th century, the Knights Hospitaller owned the Hampton manor. In the 14th century, the manor grounds included a church, a chamber block, and a garden. The kitchen was built in the 15th century while the manor was under the ownership of Sir Giles Daubeney. The building still stands and it is known as the Great Kitchen. Base Court and the Great Gatehouse came the following century when Cardinal Wolsey was the owner of the manor.
Hampton Court Palace was built in 1515 for Cardinal Wolsey. The Cardinal fell from favor and gave it to King Henry VIII. It is one of the two remaining palaces owned by King Henry VIII. He married his sixth wife, Catherine Parr, at the Hampton Court Palace. King Edward VI, the son of Henry VIII, was born here. The palace was rebuilt and expanded during the reign of King William III. He wanted to rework the palace to rival the Palace of Versailles in France. However, the work stopped in 1694 and the palace was left with both Tudor and Baroque architectural styles. The last king to live at Hampton Court Palace was King George II.
This South West London palace served as a filming location for movies such as To Kill a King, Pirates of the Caribbean, Sherlock Holmes, and the live-action movie Cinderella. Queen Elizabeth II and the Crown currently own Hampton Court Palace which is now open to the public. Hampton Court is the nearest railway station. The palace grounds contain the famous Hampton Court Maze, the royal tennis court, and the 2005 world’s largest grapevine. The Hampton Court Palace Festival and flower show are annual events held here.