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Learn about the history and architecture of the former royal residence at Greenwich, London. The palace was built by Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, in 1443 and rebuilt by Henry VII in 1500.
Learn about the history of the Palace of Placentia, the favourite royal residence of the Tudors and the birthplace of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. Discover how it evolved from a medieval manor house to a biscuit factory and a naval hospital.
- Were The Tudors The First Kings and Queens to Live in Greenwich?
- Why Was Greenwich Palace called The Palace of Placentia?
- What Happened to The Palace of Placentia Under The Tudors?
- What Was Greenwich Palace Like Under King Henry VIII?
- How Did Traffic Pass Through Greenwich?
- Did Elizabeth I Live in Greenwich Palace?
- What Happened to The Palace of Placentia?
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A royal manor house had existed in Greenwich for centuries, even before King Henry V gifted the land to his brother Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester. This gift helped lay the foundations for the future Tudor palace. Humphrey built a tower for defence on the land in 1427, as well as a large riverside house called 'Bella Court'. He also enclosed the area...
After Humphrey Duke of Gloucester died, Margaret of Anjou, the wife of Henry VI, enlarged and improved Bella Court. She included a pier so that boats could come and go even at low tide, and named her new palace 'Placentia', or 'pleasant place'.
Henry VII, the first Tudor king, made the palace at Greenwich even larger. He covered the whole palace with a new facing of red brick. It became a favourite palace of the Tudors, partly because it was close to the royal shipyards on the River Thames. Henry VII's son, the future Henry VIII, was born at the palace on 28 June 1491.
As well as being born at the palace of Placentia, Henry VIII spent a lot of time there. It was one of his favourite palaces. He married two of his wives there and it was where his daughters Elizabeth and Mary were born. Henry VIII was particularly fond of ships and the navy, and Greenwich was well sited for visiting the new shipyards at nearby Dept...
In Tudor times the Deptford to Woolwich road ran right through the royal grounds. Travellers preferred this road because it avoided Blackheath, where many robbers lurked. The muddy road was closed in on both sides by a high wall. There was a gate-house which was used to guard the point where the Tudor kings and queens crossed the road to enter the ...
Elizabeth I, who was born at Greenwich, was baptised in the church of the Observant Friars, which was next to the palace. When she became queen, she liked to spend time at Greenwich, especially in the summer. There is a famous story about Sir Walter Ralegh putting his cloak down in the mud for Queen Elizabeth to walk over. Some people have suggeste...
During the Civil War the Palace of Placentia fell into disrepair. Although Charles II planned for it to be rebuilt, it was never used as a royal residence and was eventually demolished. A new palace was partly built, only to be converted into the new Naval Hospital. However, the fall of the Tudor palace coincided with the rise of the Queen's House,...
Learn about the history of Greenwich Palace, also known as the Palace of Placentia, where Henry VIII was born and married two of his wives. Find out why it was a favourite palace of the Tudors and what happened to it after the Civil War.
Greenwich Palace, also known as Palace of Placentia, was a royal residence in Tudor England. It was the birthplace of King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I, and the site of Anne Boleyn's arrest and Shakespeare's performance.
The site of the Old Royal Naval College was once the Palace of Placentia – also known as Greenwich Palace (1498–1694). It was the birthplace of the infamous Tudor monarch King Henry VIII and his daughters Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I. Find out more about the Tudors at Greenwich.
1498–1504: Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth of York replace Placentia with a new palace: Greenwich Palace. Its location next to the royal shipyards at Deptford and Woolwich helped make it a favourite residence of the Tudors.
People also ask
Who built the palace of Placentia?
Why was Placentia a favourite palace of the Tudors?
Is the palace of Placentia still in use today?
What happened to the palace of Placentia during the Civil War?
The Palace of Placentia was an English Royal Palace built by Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester in 1447, in Greenwich, on the banks of the River Thames, downstream from London. It was the place of the birth of Elizabeth I in 1533.
