Insights and behind the scenes from our palaces
Protecting wildlife and their habitat at Home Park
22 November 2024
Park Ranger Eleanor Evetts explores the importance of nature conservation efforts at Home Park at Hampton Court Palace.
Secrets From Our Stores: Late Night Cocoa
14 December 2015
The story of a cocoa tin that was hidden by workmen in the early 20th century, only to be uncovered by others almost 80 years later.
Objects Unwrapped: A Tin-glazed Floor Tile Found at the Tower
10 December 2015
This tin-glazed ceramic floor tile is decorated with a deer in a landscape, surrounded by concentric circles and trefoil motifs in the corners. It would originally have formed part of a decorative floor, consisting of similar style tiles but with different animals and patterns in the centre.
Objects Unwrapped: Grace and Favour Residents
09 December 2015
When George III became king in 1760, he chose not to use Hampton Court Palace as a royal residence. So the palace was turned into a giant lodging house for Grace and Favour residents.
Objects Unwrapped: Tudor Leather Mache Putto from Hampton Court
07 December 2015
Putti are representations of small male children often with wings, found in religious and secular artwork. They were a popular form of decoration during the Renaissance.
Objects Unwrapped: An 18th-Century Yeoman Warder's Tankard
04 December 2015
It's the late 18th century and the Yeoman Body are ending their busy shift guarding the Tower of London. Warder Francis Dobson heads down to the Stone Kitchen Tavern for a well-earned pint in his personalised tankard; obviously a regular!
Hay-making with Two Hampton Court Shire Horses
18 September 2015
The tradition of hay-making is being kept alive at Kensington Palace thanks to Tom and Murdoch, a pair of Shire Horses from Hampton Court Palace.
How we acquired The Bristowe Hat
20 January 2015
The Bristowe Hat is a very rare example of Tudor or very early Stuart fashion. It first appeared on my desk in the form of an email – 'Did we want it?' I was certainly very intrigued...
Excavations at Hampton Court Palace
04 December 2014
The Magic Garden Project at Hampton Court Palace has seen hundreds of trenches excavated to place electrical cables, drainage and foundations for the new garden.
Glorious Georgian Bathing: Queen Caroline's bath tub
23 September 2014
Hot water, soap, and shampoo; for most of us this is the start of our day. A shower or bath each morning is a habitual part of modern life that the majority of us couldn't go without.