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In brief
A palatial and captivating Tudor-built royal residence attesting to centuries of palace life and the powerful, imposing monarchs who once paced its dark, echoing corridors. Chilling screams, mysterious scents, running footsteps, and numerous full-bodied apparitions all provide an enduring and eerie testament to a distant past.
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About
The grand and imposing Hampton Court Palace is the most beautiful palace in England. Opened to the public during the rule of Queen Victoria in 1838, visitors from all over the world flock to the palace every year to explore its rich and fascinating history and marvel at its stunning architecture and incredible gardens.
Visitors have the opportunity to discover the rooms that make up this delightful former royal home, such as the lavish royal apartments, Tudor kitchens, and the beautiful chapel with its stunning vaulted ceiling installed by Henry VIII in 1530. Various events, exhibitions, and interactive experiences are available to help teach and bring the palace’s history to life.
The venue organisers and staff provide visitors the opportunity to participate in various events, exhibitions, and interactive experiences that bring its history to life.
History
Situated on the northern bank of the river Thames in the affluent London Borough of Richmond, the palace was built in 1515 by the then Archbishop of York, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey.
Wolsey had taken on the 95-year lease of the original Hampton Manor and spent ten years investing substantial amounts of money to create a sumptuous and grand mansion for himself. Wolsey’s achievements were, however, so impressive that he was compelled to transfer the property lease to the covetous and envious King Henry VIII.
All six wives of King Henry spent time at the palace, where the King held extravagant banquets, entertained visiting dignitaries, and played sport. The palace was filled with expensive artwork, and the royal apartments were lavishly decorated.
Over the periods that followed, the palace entertained and housed many monarchs, including Queen Elizabeth I, King Charles I, and King James I. Oliver Cromwell also spent time at the opulent mansion.
By the reigns of William III and Mary II in the 17th century, Hampton Court was thought to be outdated, and a rebuilding program was commenced to upgrade both the house and gardens. King George II and his Queen Caroline would turn out to be the final monarchs to live at Hampton Court and use it as a royal palace.
By 1737, the building was predominantly used as grace and favour accommodation to care for those in need who had provided services to the monarch. This continued until the late 1960’s.
Ghostly activity
- A pale ghostly figure thought to be that of Henry VIII's third wife, Queen Jane Seymour, who died in 1537, two weeks after giving birth to Edward VI, has been seen descending the Silverstick Staircase, carrying a long, thin candle or lit taper. The figure walks across Clock Court before disappearing. Queen Jane gave birth and later died in a room at the top of the Silverstick Staircase, and it is believed that her baby son was cared for in the rooms above Clock Court. Is the unfortunate Queen unhappily searching for her newborn son?
- A warden was once closing the building when she turned to see the apparition of a cowled figure standing a few feet away from her.
- The scent of a light perfume described as lavender and rose petals has been experienced in and around Queen Caroline's apartments.
- The ghost of an old lady in a grey dress has been reported since the 1800's and is thought to be nurse Sybil Penn. Sybil was born at Hampton Court in 1537 and went on to be nurse to Edward VI and Lady in Waiting to Queen Elizabeth I. Sybil died of smallpox in 1562 after nursing Queen Elizabeth through the disease at the palace.
- Residents of the grace and favour living quarters reported hearing unexplained bangs and knocks on the walls of their apartments, the voice of an old woman muttering to herself, and what appeared to sound like a spinning wheel. A previously unknown and nearby room that was later uncovered was interestingly found to contain an old spinning wheel. The room is claimed to have been the one occupied by the palace's grey lady, Sybil Penn. The loud bangs allegedly ceased after the skeletons of two men thought to have perished in the Civil War were discovered in shallow graves during a routine excavation in Fountain Court in 1871.
- Catherine Howard, King Henry VIII's fifth wife, was held captive at Hampton Court Palace prior to being transferred to the Tower of London, where she was imprisoned and eventually beheaded for adultery in 1542. On an occasion, when breaking free from her guards, Queen Catherine ran screaming along the Long Gallery towards the Chapel, where she believed King Henry to be praying. As she was dragged back to her apartments by the guards, Catherine screamed for mercy, hoping the King would spare her life. Visitors, warders, and other staff have reported seeing the ghost of a young woman running through the corridor. Other phenomena include the hearing of chilling screams and feeling suddenly cold, frightened, and upset in the same area. Due to the frequency of such reports, the area is now known as the Haunted Gallery.
- Two engineers attending to a fire alarm in the early hours that had mysteriously gone off near Fountain Court were both shocked to hear footsteps running up a flight of steps with nobody there to account for it.
- On three consecutive nights in 2003, the security staff were alerted to an alarm being triggered by the opening of one of the fire doors near Clock Court. An examination of CCTV footage showed that the doors had been opened with a strong force but with no explanation of the cause. On one of the three nights, a figure in a long dress or cloak could clearly be seen in the doorway operating the doors. In the 20 years since this occurred, the security staff have never wavered in their denial of any hoax. Interestingly, earlier on the same day that the figure was filmed, a visitor had noted in the visitor's book seeing a figure in period dress in the same area. Take a look at the video. What do you think?
Video
Location
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Hampton Court Way, East Molesey KT8 9AU, UK
Access
Given the age of Hampton Court Palace, certain areas have unlevel flooring and staircases, which may be difficult to access for visitors with limited mobility. A lift is however available for access to the state apartments and the first floor.
Visitors are welcome to make complementary use of palace wheelchairs.
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