Palace of Placentia
Prince Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester began construction on a new residence in 1433. He called this estate Bella Court. The project started while he served as regent for his nephew Henry VI. By 1443 the building stood complete enough to be recognized as a palace. Humphrey also erected a tower on a hill behind the main house. This structure later became known as Greenwich Castle. It eventually fell to make way for the Royal Observatory. In 1447 Humphrey lost royal favor and was arrested for high treason. He died in prison shortly after, likely from a stroke though rumors claimed murder. Margaret of Anjou seized control of Bella Court following his death. She renamed the property Palace of Placentia. Edward IV later granted land adjacent to the site for a friary. The Observant Friars established their community there in 1485.
King Henry VII initiated an extensive reconstruction between 1498 and 1504. Robert Vertue served as the master mason overseeing the work. Elizabeth of York contributed significantly to the design plans. Her influence shaped what became known as the platt of Greenwich. The King's lodgings sat directly on the bank of the River Thames. A five-storey tower or donjon rose above these rooms. These structures drew inspiration from Burgundian precedents like the Ducal Palace at Ghent. Simon Thurley notes this connection in his study of Tudor palaces. The palace remained the principal royal residence for two centuries. It offered pleasure and entertainment away from London. Visitors could access the building by boat along its 200-meter river frontage. Red brick formed the exterior walls despite being expensive to manufacture. This material choice signaled the monarchy's wealth during that era.
Henry VIII entered the world within these walls in 1491. He spent much of his early life here before becoming king. On the 1st of May 1515 he rode with Catherine of Aragon to Shooter's Hill. They ate breakfast in a wood arbour while guards dressed as Robin Hood performed a masque. Mary I followed her brother into the world in 1516. Anne Boleyn gave birth to their daughter Elizabeth there in 1533. New wooden coops were built for peacocks and a pelican to keep them away from Anne's chambers. Their calls disturbed the queen each morning. Henry VIII married Anne of Cleves at Greenwich in 1540. A fallen tree known as Queen Elizabeth's Oak stands nearby. Legend says she played beneath it as a child. Both Mary and Elizabeth lived at the palace during the sixteenth century. The chapel hosted royal baptisms including those of future queens.
The original structure combined brick and timber construction methods. State apartments and a chapel formed its core layout. Two octagonal towers overlooked the tiltyard below. Stained-glass windows adorned the chapel alongside black-and-white glazed tiles. Piles from the Tudor-era jetty remain visible today along the riverbank. During the early seventeenth century Anne of Denmark commissioned new buildings. Salomon de Caus designed an ornate grotto aviary covered in moss and shells. Inigo Jones created the Queen's House between 1616 and 1635. This classical building marked a clear departure from earlier Tudor styles. It is often credited as England's first classical structure. Most other additions perished when demolition began later. Lead-glazed tiles discovered in 2017 likely served kitchen floors. These artifacts provide insight into service areas once hidden beneath modern foundations.
Charles II ordered the main palace demolished in 1660. John Webb acted as architect for the proposed King's House replacement. Only the east range survived completion as part of present-day King Charles Court. This section never functioned as royal housing. The rest of the site remained empty until 1694. Queen Mary II directed construction of Greenwich Hospital on the grounds. The complex expanded over nearly forty years to become the Old Royal Naval College. The friary church had been expelled by Elizabeth I during the Reformation. The palace itself fell into disrepair during the English Civil War. Authorities converted parts of it into a biscuit factory temporarily. Prisoners of war also occupied sections before total abandonment. The transition from royal residence to hospital marked a complete shift in purpose.
Construction work for drains in late 2005 revealed previously unknown Tudor remains. A full excavation completed in January 2006 uncovered the Tudor Chapel and Vestry. Their tiled floor stayed intact within its original location. The vestry later housed the treasurer of Greenwich Hospital. Two additional rooms appeared during visitors' centre construction in 2017. One room contained bee holes designed to keep hives safe through winter months. Another area likely belonged to the service range of the old palace. These findings offer new understanding of daily life inside the historic building. The site now hosts the University of Greenwich and Trinity Laban Conservatoire. Historic markers stand where the main palace once rose above the Thames. Piles from the original jetty remain embedded in the riverbed below.
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Common questions
Who began construction on the Palace of Placentia in 1433?
Prince Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester began construction on a new residence in 1433. He called this estate Bella Court while serving as regent for his nephew Henry VI.
When did King Henry VII initiate extensive reconstruction at the Palace of Placentia?
King Henry VII initiated an extensive reconstruction between 1498 and 1504. Robert Vertue served as the master mason overseeing the work under Elizabeth of York's design influence.
Which monarchs were born inside the Palace of Placentia during the sixteenth century?
Henry VIII entered the world within these walls in 1491. Mary I followed her brother into the world in 1516 and Anne Boleyn gave birth to their daughter Elizabeth there in 1533.
What happened to the main palace structure after Charles II ordered its demolition in 1660?
Charles II ordered the main palace demolished in 1660 and only the east range survived completion as part of present-day King Charles Court. The rest of the site remained empty until Queen Mary II directed construction of Greenwich Hospital on the grounds in 1694.
When was the Tudor Chapel and Vestry uncovered during excavations at the Palace of Placentia?
Construction work for drains in late 2005 revealed previously unknown Tudor remains before a full excavation completed in January 2006 uncovered the Tudor Chapel and Vestry. Their tiled floor stayed intact within its original location.