England's largest collection of chimneys: ornate red brick Tudor smokestacks rising above the roofs of Hampton Court, built in the early 1500s beside the River Thames in what is now the London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames, by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, but then seized by his King, Henry VIII, who used it as a pleasure palace. There are more than 240 chimneys in all, with no two of the designs exactly the same.
Hampton Court Palace, in the London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames, England, UK: ornate red brick Tudor chimneys reach for a stormy sky above the roofs of 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 famous 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: 4256px × 2832px
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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