Nonsuch Palace: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit Next edit →

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Revision as of 05:19, 28 November 2009

Nonsuch Palace was a Tudor royal palace, built by Henry VIII in Surrey, England; it stood from 1538 to 1682–3.

Background

Nonsuch Palace in Surrey, was arguably the greatest of Henry VIII's building projects. It was built on the site of Cuddington, near Epsom, the church and village having been destroyed and compensation paid to create a suitable site. Work started on 22 April 1538, the first day of Henry's thirtieth regnal year, and six months after the birth of his son, later Edward VI. Within two months the name 'Nonsuch' appears in the building accounts, so called because it was claimed there was no such palace elsewhere equal to its magnificence. Construction had been substantially carried out by 1541, but it would take several more years to complete. As the Royal Household took possession of vast tracts of surrounding acreage, several major roads were re-routed or by-passed to circumvent what became Nonsuch Great Park.

The palace was designed to be a celebration of the power and the grandeur of the Tudor dynasty, built to rival Francis I's Château de Chambord. Unlike most of Henry's palaces, Nonsuch was not an adaptation of an old building; he chose to build a new palace in this location because it was near to one of his main hunting grounds. The palace cost at least £24,000 (£101 million in 2009 ^[1]) due to its rich ornamentation and is considered a key work in the introduction of elements of Renaissance design to England.

Archaeology

Only about three contemporary images of the palace survive, and they do not reveal very much about either the layout or the details of the building. The site was excavated in 1959–60. The plan of the palace was quite simple with inner and outer courtyards, each with a fortified gatehouse. To the north, it was fortified in a medieval style, but the southern face had ornate Renaissance decoration, with tall octagonal towers at each end. It is within one of these towers that the premier of Thomas Tallis' masterwork, "Spem in Allium" was performed. A motet for forty voices divided into eight choirs of five it is rumoured that each choir took position in one of the eight balconies of a tower and sang the piece for the patrons below. The exterior and outer courtyard were quite plain, but the inner courtyard was decorated with breathtaking stucco panels moulded in high relief.

Following the digging of the trenches in World War II, it was reported that pieces of pottery had been discovered in the area, later found to be from the site of the palace.^{[citation needed]} An outline of the site layout was also visible from the air, which allegedly provided additional evidence in the search for the location of the site. The 1959 excavation of Nonsuch was a key event in the history of archaeology in the UK. It was one of the first post-medieval sites to be excavated, and attracted over 75,000 visitors during the work. This excavation led to a major set of developments in post-medieval archeology.^[2]

Through the ages

The palace was incomplete when Henry VIII died in 1547. In 1556 Queen Mary I sold it to the 19th Earl of Arundel who completed it. It returned to royal hands in the 1590s, and remained royal property until 1670, when Charles II gave it to his mistress, Barbara, Countess of Castlemaine. She had it pulled down around 1682–3 and sold off the building materials to pay gambling debts.^[3] Some elements were incorporated into other buildings; for example the wood panelling can still be seen today in the Great Hall at Loseley Park. No trace of the palace remains on its site today but some pieces are held by the British Museum. There is, however, a discernible rise of land where the old Cuddington church used to be, before it was demolished to make way for the palace. Nonsuch Palace should not be confused with Nonsuch Mansion, which is at the east of the park, nor its associated banqueting hall whose foundations are still visible to the south east of the palace site.

The Tudors

A depiction of Nonsuch Palace appears in series 3 episode 8 of the television series The Tudors, seen in the distance when Henry VIII rides out to show it to his mistress Catherine Howard. Earlier in the series, the plot asserts that the Palace was designed by the King when incommunicado, racked with grief over the death of Jane Seymour.

Notes

^ http://www.measuringworth.com/ppoweruk/result.php?use[]=CPI&use[]=NOMINALEARN&year_early=1547&pound71=24000+&shilling71=&pence71=&amount=24000&year_source=1547&year_result=2009 £Pound Sterling 1547 → 2009
^ David Gaimster. "Great sites: Nonsuch Palace". British Archeology. Retrieved 2006-12-31. In 1959, the year Martin Biddle first excavated Henry VIII's vanished palace of Nonsuch in Surrey, the concept of post-medieval archaeology was virtually unknown. Within a decade the subject was established with its own academic society, and post-medieval sites were being investigated and rescued in their own right. Today the subject is routinely taught at universities, and archaeologists are increasingly specialising in the period which spans the transition between medieval and industrial society. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
^ King Henry's Lost Palace, britishlocalhistory.co.uk

References

Books

Dent, John (1970). Quest for Nonsuch (2nd Edition ed.). ISBN 0091051401. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help); Unknown parameter |origdate= ignored (|orig-date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |publisger= ignored (help)

Biddle, Martin. Nonsuch Palace: The Material Culture of a Noble Restoration Household (1st Edition ed.). ISBN 9781900188340. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help); Unknown parameter |origdate= ignored (|orig-date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |publisger= ignored (help)

External links

51°21′15″N 0°14′20″W / 51.354145°N 0.238958°W / 51.354145; -0.238958

[1] ttp://www.measuringworth.com/ppoweruk/result.php?use[]=CPI&use[]=NOMINALEARN&year_early=1547&pound71=24000+&shilling71=&pence71=&amount=24000&year_source=1547&year_result=2009 £Pound Sterling 1547 → 2009

[2] David Gaimster. "Great sites: Nonsuch Palace". British Archeology. Retrieved 2006-12-31. In 1959, the year Martin Biddle first excavated Henry VIII's vanished palace of Nonsuch in Surrey, the concept of post-medieval archaeology was virtually unknown. Within a decade the subject was established with its own academic society, and post-medieval sites were being investigated and rescued in their own right. Today the subject is routinely taught at universities, and archaeologists are increasingly specialising in the period which spans the transition between medieval and industrial society. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)

[3] King Henry's Lost Palace, britishlocalhistory.co.uk

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 '''Nonsuch Palace''' in [[Surrey]], was arguably the greatest of [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII's]] building projects.  It was built on the site of [[Cuddington, Surrey|Cuddington]], near [[Epsom]], the church and village having been destroyed and compensation paid to create a suitable site.  Work started on [[22 April]] [[1538]], the first day of Henry's thirtieth [[regnal year]], and six months after the birth of his son, later [[Edward VI of England|Edward VI]]. Within two months the name 'Nonsuch' appears in the building accounts, so called because it was claimed there was no such palace elsewhere equal to its magnificence. Construction had been substantially carried out by 1541, but it would take several more years to complete.  As the Royal Household took possession of vast tracts of surrounding acreage, several major roads were re-routed or by-passed to circumvent what became Nonsuch Great Park.
-The palace was designed to be a celebration of the power and the grandeur of the Tudor dynasty, built to rival [[Francis I of France|Francis I's]] [[Château de Chambord]]. Unlike most of Henry's palaces, Nonsuch was not an adaptation of an old building; he choose to build a new palace in this location because it was near to one of his main hunting grounds. The palace cost at least £24,000 (a king's ransom at the time) due to its rich ornamentation and is considered a key work in the introduction of elements of [[Renaissance architecture|Renaissance design]] to England.
+The palace was designed to be a celebration of the power and the grandeur of the Tudor dynasty, built to rival [[Francis I of France|Francis I's]] [[Château de Chambord]]. Unlike most of Henry's palaces, Nonsuch was not an adaptation of an old building; he chose to build a new palace in this location because it was near to one of his main hunting grounds. The palace cost at least £24,000 (£101 million in 2009 <ref>http://www.measuringworth.com/ppoweruk/result.php?use[]=CPI&use[]=NOMINALEARN&year_early=1547&pound71=24000+&shilling71=&pence71=&amount=24000&year_source=1547&year_result=2009 £Pound Sterling 1547 → 2009 </ref>) due to its rich ornamentation and is considered a key work in the introduction of elements of [[Renaissance architecture|Renaissance design]] to England.
+== Archaeology ==
+Only about three contemporary images of the palace survive, and they do not reveal very much about either the layout or the details of the building. The site was excavated in 1959–60. The plan of the palace was quite simple with inner and outer [[courtyard]]s, each with a fortified [[gatehouse]].  To the north, it was [[fortification|fortified]] in a [[medieval]] style, but the southern face had ornate [[Renaissance]] decoration, with tall [[octagon]]al towers at each end. It is within one of these towers that the premier of Thomas Tallis' masterwork, "Spem in Allium" was performed. A motet for forty voices divided into eight choirs of five it is rumoured that each choir took position in one of the eight balconies of a tower and sang the piece for the patrons below.  The exterior and outer courtyard were quite plain, but the inner courtyard was decorated with breathtaking [[stucco]] panels moulded in [[high relief]].
-== Archeology ==
+Following the digging of the trenches in [[World War II]], it was reported that pieces of pottery had been discovered in the area, later found to be from the site of the palace.{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}} An outline of the site layout was also visible from the air, which allegedly provided additional evidence in the search for the location of the site. The 1959 excavation of Nonsuch was a key event in the history of archaeology in the UK. It was one of the first post-medieval sites to be excavated, and attracted over 75,000 visitors during the work. This excavation led to a major set of developments in post-medieval archeology.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britarch.ac.uk/BA/ba60/feat1.shtml |title=Great sites: Nonsuch Palace |accessdate=2006-12-31 |author=David Gaimster |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=British Archeology |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote=In 1959, the year Martin Biddle first excavated Henry VIII's vanished palace of Nonsuch in Surrey, the concept of post-medieval archaeology was virtually unknown. Within a decade the subject was established with its own academic society, and post-medieval sites were being investigated and rescued in their own right. Today the subject is routinely taught at universities, and archaeologists are increasingly specialising in the period which spans the transition between medieval and industrial society.}}</ref>
-Only about three contemporary images of the palace survive, and they do not reveal very much about either the layout or the details of the building. The site was excavated in 1959–60. The plan of the palace was quite simple with inner and outer [[courtyard]]s, each with a fortified [[gatehouse]].  To the north, it was [[fortification|fortified]] in a [[medieval]] style, but the southern face had ornate [[Renaissance]] decoration, with tall [[octagon]]al towers at each end.  The exterior and outer courtyard were quite plain, but the inner courtyard was decorated with breathtaking [[stucco]] panels moulded in [[high relief]].
-Following the digging of the trenches in WW2, it was reported that pieces of pottery had been discovered in the area, later found to be from the site of the palace.{{Fact|date=August 2008}} An outline of the site layout was also visible from the air, which allegedly provided additional evidence in the search for the location of the site. The 1959 excavation of Nonsuch was a key event in the history of archaeology in the UK. It was one of the first post-medieval sites to be excavated, and attracted over 75,000 visitors during the work. This excavation led to a major set of developments in post-medieval archeology.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britarch.ac.uk/BA/ba60/feat1.shtml |title=Great sites: Nonsuch Palace |accessdate=2006-12-31 |author=David Gaimster |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=British Archeology |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote=In 1959, the year Martin Biddle first excavated Henry VIII's vanished palace of Nonsuch in Surrey, the concept of post-medieval archaeology was virtually unknown. Within a decade the subject was established with its own academic society, and post-medieval sites were being investigated and rescued in their own right. Today the subject is routinely taught at universities, and archaeologists are increasingly specialising in the period which spans the transition between medieval and industrial society.}}</ref>
 == Through the ages ==
-The palace was incomplete when Henry VIII died in 1547. In 1556 Queen [[Mary I of England|Mary I]] sold it to the 19th [[Henry FitzAlan, 19th Earl of Arundel|Earl of Arundel]] who completed it. It returned to royal hands in the 1590s, and remained royal property until 1670, when [[Charles II of England|Charles II]] gave it to his mistress, [[Barbara Palmer, 1st Duchess of Cleveland|Barbara, Countess of Castlemaine]]. She had it pulled down around 1682–3 and sold off the building materials to pay gambling debts.<ref>[http://www.britishlocalhistory.co.uk/community/local-history-wiki-article-KING-HENRYS-LOST-PALACE.aspx King Henry's Lost Palace], britishlocalhistory.co.uk</ref> Some elements were incorporated into other buildings, for example the wood panelling can still be seen today in the Great Hall at [[Loseley Park]].  No trace of the palace remains on its site today but some pieces are held by the [[British Museum]]. There is, however, a discernible rise of land where the old Cuddington church used to be, before it was demolished to make way for the palace.  Nonsuch Palace should not be confused with [[Nonsuch Mansion]], which is at the east of the park, nor its associated banqueting hall whose foundations are still visible to the south east of the palace site.
+The palace was incomplete when Henry VIII died in 1547. In 1556 Queen [[Mary I of England|Mary I]] sold it to the 19th [[Henry FitzAlan, 19th Earl of Arundel|Earl of Arundel]] who completed it. It returned to royal hands in the 1590s, and remained royal property until 1670, when [[Charles II of England|Charles II]] gave it to his mistress, [[Barbara Palmer, 1st Duchess of Cleveland|Barbara, Countess of Castlemaine]]. She had it pulled down around 1682–3 and sold off the building materials to pay gambling debts.<ref>[http://www.britishlocalhistory.co.uk/community/local-history-wiki-article-KING-HENRYS-LOST-PALACE.aspx King Henry's Lost Palace], britishlocalhistory.co.uk</ref> Some elements were incorporated into other buildings; for example the wood panelling can still be seen today in the Great Hall at [[Loseley Park]].  No trace of the palace remains on its site today but some pieces are held by the [[British Museum]]. There is, however, a discernible rise of land where the old Cuddington church used to be, before it was demolished to make way for the palace.  Nonsuch Palace should not be confused with [[Nonsuch Mansion]], which is at the east of the park, nor its associated banqueting hall whose foundations are still visible to the south east of the palace site.
-==See also==
+== ''The Tudors'' ==
+A depiction of Nonsuch Palace appears in [[List of The Tudors episodes|series 3 episode 8]] of the television series ''[[The Tudors]]'', seen in the distance when Henry VIII rides out to show it to his mistress [[Catherine Howard]]. Earlier in the series, the plot asserts that the Palace was designed by the King when [[incommunicado]], racked with grief over the death of [[Jane Seymour]].
+==See also==
 *[[Artists of the Tudor court]]
 *[[Nonsuch]]
-*The fictional city of [[Ankh-Morpork]] has a Nonesuch Street, likely named after this palace
+*The fictional city of [[Ankh-Morpork]] has a Nonesuch Street, possibly named after this palace
 *[[Loseley Park]]
@@ Line 31: / Line 33: @@
 *{{cite book |title=Quest for Nonsuch |first=John |last=Dent |edition=2nd Edition |publisger=Hutchinson |origdate=1962 |year=1970 |isbn=0091051401}}
-*{{cite book |title=Nonsuch Palace: The Material Culture of a Noble Restoration Household.|first=Martin |last=Biddle |edition= 1st Edition |publisger=Oxbow Books |origdate=2005 |isbn=9781900188340}}
+*{{cite book |title=Nonsuch Palace: The Material Culture of a Noble Restoration Household.|first=Martin |last=Biddle |authorlink=Martin Biddle |edition= 1st Edition |publisger=Oxbow Books |origdate=2005 |isbn=9781900188340}}
 ===External links===
+*[http://www.pastscape.org/hob.aspx?hob_id=615381 A historical record of Nonsuch Palace]
 *[http://www.gac.culture.gov.uk/search/Object.asp?object_key=19371 Better version of the Hoefnagel engraving]
 *[http://www.burbage-jun.leics.sch.uk/HTML%20files/tudors/buildings/nonsuch.htm All three images, the last after much had been burnt down]
 *[http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba60/feat1.shtml An account of the excavation of Nonsuch Palace]
 *[http://www.loseleypark.co.uk/home.asp Loseley Park]
 {{coord|51.354145|-0.238958|region:GB_type:landmark|display=title}}
@@ Line 48: / Line 50: @@
 [[Category:Tudor royal palaces in England]]
 [[Category:Royal residences in the United Kingdom]]
-[[Category:Former castles, palaces, and fortresses]]
+[[Category:Former palaces]]
 [[Category:Destroyed landmarks]]
+[[Category:1538 architecture]]
 [[es:Palacio de Nonsuch]]
+[[fr:Palais de Sans-Pareil]]
 [[no:Nonsuch Palace]]
 [[pl:Pałac Nonsuch]]

v t e British royal residences
Official	Buckingham Palace Clarence House Hillsborough Castle Holyrood Palace Kensington Palace St James's Palace Windsor Castle
Private	Balmoral Castle Birkhall Craigowan Lodge Gatcombe Park Highgrove House Kensington Palace Ivy Cottage Nottingham Cottage Wren House Llwynywermod Sandringham House Anmer Hall Wood Farm Tamarisk Thatched House Lodge Windsor Adelaide Cottage Bagshot Park Frogmore Cottage Royal Lodge
See also	Former royal residences Historic Royal Palaces