HAMPTON COURT PALACE. 
PLATES 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37. 
F all the old garden schemes left to us, Hampton Court stands unrivalled in the 
grandeur of its conception. The history of the palace has been so fully and 
admirably dealt with in the comprehensive work by Mr. Ernest Law, that it would 
hardly be possible to add anything to it, and in briefly sketching the history of the 
gardens which partake of its glory, the author must acknowledge his indebtedness 
to Mr. Law for most of the historical data. 
In early days the Knights Hospitallers had a garden here, together with a 
dovecote and some two thousand acres of arable land, which they farmed for the benefit of the ruling 
body. When Cardinal Wolsey became possessed of the property, he converted this land into two parks, 
partly fencing them in with palings, and partly with a brick wall, portions of which are still remaining. 
At the same time he surrounded both house and gardens with a moat that remained for many years, and 
may still be traced on the north side of the old melon yard. 
Wolsey devoted much attention to the surroundings of his palace, and the gardens, although of 
comparatively small extent, were among the finest of the period. Here the Cardinal used to retire for 
rest and meditation, and, Cavendish tells us, might often be found in the evenings, walking with his 
chaplain or saying the office in a secluded arbour. In 1529 came his downfall, and Hampton Court 
passed into the hands of his royal master. 
Henry VIII. made many alterations to the gardens, and in 1533 constructed the King’s New 
Garden (now the Privy Garden), appointing one Edward Gryffyn to superintend the work. In the 
Bodleian Library is preserved a drawing by Antonius Wynegaarde 1 showing the gardens in the reign of 
Queen Mary, which gives a good idea of their appearance at this date, with their innumerable sundials, 
vases, and pedestals bearing heraldic beasts, studded about in all parts. 
At the southern end of the garden stood the Great Mount with its fine arbour. Nothing now 
remains of these Tudor gardens except perhaps the small pond garden, shown on Plate 35. To the north 
of the palace and occupying the site of the present Wilderness, were the orchards, and close by, the 
kitchen gardens, on ground still used for this purpose. 
Queen Elizabeth took great delight in the garden, wherein, we are told, she was accustomed to walk 
every morning, and here took place the famous interview with Melville, the envoy of Hans Casimir, 
eldest son of the Elector Palatine, who had come to Hampton Court hoping to be able to effect a 
marriage between the Queen and his royal master. 
Oliver Cromwell devoted some attention to the gardens, repairing the fountains and ponds, but it 
was left to Charles II., fresh from having seen the glories of Versailles, to inaugurate the great scheme 
that we see to-day. He constructed the Long Canal, and planted the large semicircle and the grand 
avenues in front of the palace, but did not live to see the completion of his great schemes. 
When William and Mary made the extensive alterations to the palace from Sir Christopher Wren’s 
design, they carried to completion the works commenced by Charles, acting under the advice of George 
London, whom they appointed to the post of Royal Gardener. London, together with his partner Henry 
Wise, was responsible for all the alterations which took place at this date, although no doubt acting in 
concert with the master-mind of the great architect. They shifted the avenue of lime trees further 
1 Reproduced on a small scale in Mr. Law’s work. 
