Kensington Palace [antikvár]

KENSINGTON PALACE HISTORY OF THE PALACE 1680 Notiinj^lmin House purchased by VViUiam HI from Eari of Noitiiighatii for L14,000. T "*HE PRINCIPAL LONDON RESIDENCE OF Tllli TUDOK AND STUART MONARCHS HAD BEEN the rambling riverside palace of Whitehall. For purposes of state and ceremonial, it remained the official centre of the court in William Ill's reign, but neither he nor his wife, Mary, were attracted by the thought of living there. William suffered from chronic asthma and in the early part of 1689, when he became king, his health was especially poor. Neither the smoke nor the oppressive air of London was in the least conducive to his well-being; and Mary, for her part, felt shut in at Whitehall. Towards the end of February they moved out to Hampton Court, where extensive alterations were begun under the direction of Sir Christopher Wren, Surveyor of the King's Works. At the same time they began looking round London for a house which would be nearer to Westminster and the business of government. Building and the laying out of gardens were William's main distractions from the incessant burdens of campaigning, and improvements were constantly in progress at Het Loo, his palace in Holland (now also open to the public). 'In the least Interval of Ease', wrote Switzer, 'Gard'ning took up a great part of his Time, in which he was not only a Delighter, but likewise a great judge.' So that it was perhaps the beauty of the garden, 'a mighty fine cool place . . . with a great laver of water in the middle and the bravest place for musique I ever heard', as Fepys described it, that led him to purchase Nottingham House in June 16K9, for 'his seat in the winter, being near Whitehall'. According to Bowack, it was 'the only retreat near London, lie was pleas'd with'. Nottingham House, a Jacobean mansion built about i6os for Sir George Coppin, stood in Kensington, a village that 'esteem'd a very good Air', on high ground close to the church. It was owned by William's trusted Secretary of State, the Earl of Nottingham, and the purchase price was 14,000. Wren was instructed to improve the house forthwith. Nicholas Hawksmoor was appointed Clerk of the Works in July, and the work was hurried forward, as the Queen was anxious to move in. Temporary accommodation had been found at Holland House, but she felt unsettled there: '1 could not do as 1 would. This made me go often to Kinsington [sic] to hasten the workmen, and 1 was to [sic] impatient to be at that place, imagining to find more ease there . . . [but] part of the house which was new built fell down. The same accident happened at Hampton Court.' In spite of this disaster, the court came into residence at Kensington House shortly before Christmas 1689. What Wren had done to the old house was to add pavilions to each of the corners, and reorientate the building by designing a courtyard and entrance on the west side {see pinn on ifiside hack cover). The south-east and north-west pavilions contained apartments for the King and Queen respectively, while the council chamber was situated in the north-east pavilion. The two lower floors of the Jacobean house were allocated to courtiers; and the south-west pavilion contained the Great Stairs and Chapel Royal. On the south side of tiie courtyard, Wren built a range containing a corridor (the Stone (iailery) which led from the main portico to the Cireat Stairs, with more rooms for courtiers behind. On the north side were the kitchens; and on the west an archway surmounted by a clock tower. Facing the archway, on the far side