When we left Kingston after a few miles we observed a brick wall that seem to go on for miles and miles and the Captain asked the First Mate to climb on top of the boat and investigate what was behind the wall.”Just some vast country estate with landscaped gardens and park land”. After another ten minutes of boating, we were greeted by a huge set of golden gates through which we could see a huge palatial building. “Must be Hampton Court” said the Cabin Boy, “Yes that’s it “said the First Mate, “The place where that Henry VIII used to do a lot a shagging in the olden days. Hampton Court was built by Cardinal Wolsey in 1515 and when he fell out of favour with Henry , Henry took it back in 1529. Henry liked it so much that he enlarged it and made in his Royal Residence. There are a lot of interesting facts about Hampton Court. During Henry’s reign, the palace featured bowling alleys and tennis courts along with lavish gardens and a 36,000 sq. foot kitchen and when Charles I was deposed, he was held prisoner at Hampton Court Palace for three months until he escaped and was later executed.” “Is there anything else you can tell us First Mate about it then? “Yes” continued the First mate “The gardens feature a maze that was commissioned by William III of Orange in the 1690’s. King Charles I dug out the Longford River, which still supplies water to the garden’s fountains today and finally George II was the last monarch to live there. The Captain at last got to say something about Hampton Court
“In 1838, Queen Victoria, opened up the Palace for visitors and even today you can still go and visit it at around fifteen pounds a head and of course, pensioners can get in for a princely reduction of a couple of quid per head at about twelve quid.
It is hard to believe that even in such a grand place as Hampton court that the begging bowl is always present” added the Captain.
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