| Print

RICHMOND PALACE

ALTERNATIVE NAME:

SHEEN MANOR HOUSE

ABOUT THIS MONUMENT

+ / -

EH Visitor Information
Related Monuments
Related Text
Investigation History

More Pictures
Modern Map
Old Map
Aerial Photograph

Monument Types
Sources
Thesaurus
Description

DESCRIPTION

+ / -

The remains of Richmond Palace built by Henry VII in 1499-1501 on the site of the manor-house of Sheen established by at least 1125. Two royal residences had previously stood on the site. The first was probably built by Edward III who died there in 1377. This royal residence was destroyed by Richard II in 1395 following the death of Queen Anne there in 1394. The second was built by Henry V between 1413 and 1422. Richmond was his principal residence, but the palace was destroyed by fire in 1497, to be then rebuilt by Henry VII. Henry VII died at Richmond in 1509 and although Henry VIII took possession of the palace he did not make so much use of it as his father, preferring Whitehall and Hampton Court Palaces. His wife Anne of Cleves was bestowed Richmond and occupied it from 1540-47, and Queen Elizabeth I died there in 1603. From the 17th century the palace was used less frequently by the royal family and it began to be demolished with several new buildings constructed. These were part of a new schema for Richmond and Kew Parks and included the early 18th century houses; The Wardrobe and the Trumpeter's House, now private residences.

All that remains of Henry VII's Tudor palace is the main palace gateway and the old courtyard which is now known as Old Palace yard. The arms of Henry VII have been restored and have been repositioned above the gateway arch. The plan of the palace is known from Wyngaerde's drawings and other documentary evidence and included a great court and a large royal apartment block next to the river Thames. A privy garden and orchard were enclosed by the palace's walls.

The two 18th and 19th century houses which now occupy the site are built of dark red brick and have octagonal turrets.

PICTURES

+ / -

DETAIL

+ / -

MORE INFORMATION & SOURCES

+ / -

TQ 17587492 The Old Palace and remains of RICHMOND PALACE [G.T]
Gate House [T.I]
The Old Court House [T.I]
Old Palace Yard [T.I]
Trumpeters House [T.I]
The Wardrobe [T.I] (1)

Richmond Palace, formerly Sheen Palace. It is probable that Edward III either built or enlarged a manor house mentioned in 1125, and made it into one of his principal residences, and it was at Sheen that he died in 1377. Twenty-four Carmelities stayed at the Manor House from 1314 to 1318 by order of the King. Several rebuilding phases are noted, culminating in a fire, 1499, after which it was rebuilt 'with great splendour' and completed in 1501.

Queen Elizabeth I died here, and partial demolition commenced in the mid 17th. cent. A park was attached to the Palace and is now known as Old Deer Park: See TQ 17 NE 27. The remains comprise a simple gateway dating to the reign of Henry VII, which leads to the outer courtyard of the palace, now known as Old Palace Yard, and several buildings which contain Tudor material including the adjacent Old Palace, 18th c., The Wardrobe, E.18th.cent., & the 'outstanding' Trumpeter's House, c.1708. (2-9)

Following the death of Queen Anne at Sheen in 1394, Richard II ordered the razing of the entire complex to the ground in 1395. Henry V rebuilt the palace from 1413, making it his principal residence. The architectural character of the house is not recorded, but it was in stone. Works continued under Henry VI, but a fire in 1499 destroyed the complex. (10)

The remains of Richmond Palace comprise:
(i)The Old Gate, 15th.c., GP AO/65/229/2 and the Old Gate House, 18th.c., GP AO/65/228/8.
(ii)The Trumpeters House, previously the Guard House and now a private residence, built 1708, GP AO/65/229/4.
(iv)The Wardrobe, previously the stables, and now private residences, early 18th.c. but incorporating Tudor brick, GP AO/65/229/3.
(v)The Old Palace, 18th.c. now a private residence,
GP AO/65/228/7. (11)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 1:1250 1960

( 2) edited by H E Malden 1911 The Victoria history of the county of Surrey: volume three

The Victoria history of the counties of England Page(s)533-6

( 3) Pevsner, N 1970 The Buildings of England

Surrey, 1962 Page(s)371

( 4) Surrey Archaeological Society Surrey archaeological collections : relating to the history and antiquities of the County

20, 1907 Page(s)XXI-XXV

( 5) by David Knowles and R Neville Hadcock 1953 Medieval religious houses : England and Wales

Page(s)123

(6) by David Knowles and R Neville Hadcock 1971 Medieval religious houses in England and Wales

Page(s)236

(7) by H M Colvin ... [et al] 1982 The history of the King's Works, volume 4 : 1485-1660 (Part 2)

Page(s)222-234

(8) by H M Colvin et al 1976 The history of the King's Works, volume 5 : 1660-1782

Page(s)217-32

(9) J Mordaunt Crook and M H Port 1973 The history of the King's Works, volume 6 : 1782-1851

Page(s)354-61

(10) R Allen Brown, H M Colvin and A J Taylor 1963 The history of the King's Works, volume 2 : the Middle Ages

Page(s)994-1002

(11) Field Investigators Comments

F1 FGA 07-JAN-66

MONUMENT TYPES

+ / -

COMMENTS

+ / -

Please help us keep our information accurate let us know if you see any errors on this page.

Further information about monuments may be obtained by contacting Archive Services, through the Historic England website.

HE Archives
HE Prints
Historic England
Heritage Gateway
National Heritage List for England