Elaborate red brick Tudor chimneys - no two quite alike - seen against stormy skies over Hampton Court Palace, by the River Thames in the London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames, England, UK. The palace, built from 1515 by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, boasts England's largest collection of chimneys - 241 in all. After Wolsey fell from favour in 1529, Hampton Court's huge state rooms and apartments were occupied by King Henry VIII and more than 1,000 courtiers.
Hampton Court Palace, in the London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames, England, UK: elaborate red brick Tudor chimneys rise towards a stormy sky over Hampton Court Palace, which was transformed in the early 16th century into a magnificent riverside residence by English statesman and Roman Catholic Cardinal, Thomas Wolsey (1473-1530). Wolsey began the work in 1515, the year in which he was appointed as Lord High Chancellor of England by Tudor monarch King Henry VIII (1491-1547; reigned 1509-47). Wolsey spent lavishly on his home, but enjoyed it for only a few years. A dispute with Henry in 1529 caused him to fall out of favour and the King then seized Hampton Court for himself. Henry lived in the state and private apartments and Hampton Court was also home to more than 1,000 courtiers. He used it as a pleasure palace, bringing all of his six wives here and using it to show off his magnificence and influence through extravagant banquets and entertainments. The decorative brick chimneys, serving huge rooms with massive fireplaces, were an integral part of Wolsey's original design. Henry VIII added more and the palace is now adorned with a total of 241, each sporting an individual elaborate design. It is the largest collection of chimneys in England. Hampton Court lies on the northeast bank of the River Thames, upstream and about 12 miles ( km) southwest of central London. Queen Victoria opened it to the public in 1838 and its historic buildings, gardens and art collection now attract around one million visitors per year.
Size: 3370px × 1896px
Location: Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey, England, UK.
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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