56-465: Hampton Court Park , also known as Home Park , is a walled royal park managed by the Historic Royal Palaces . The park lies between the gardens of Hampton Court Palace and Kingston upon Thames and Surbiton in south west London, England , mostly within the post town of East Molesey , but with its eastern extremity within the post town of Kingston. In 2014, part of the park was designated
112-522: A biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (with Bushy Park and Hampton Court Golf Course). It takes up most of the final (lowest) meander of the non-tidal reaches of the River Thames and is mainly divided between a golf course, meadows interspersed with trees used for deer, seasonal horse grazing and wildlife. A corner of the park is used annually for the Hampton Court Flower Show and
168-424: A reduction of 90,000 in total from the previous year – and members were charged for tickets for the first time. An immediate response was a fall in attendance; by April, ticket booking was so slow that national advertisements were taken out to encourage people to come to Chelsea, and the original announcement that tickets would not be available at the gates was rescinded. In response to issues with attendance numbers,
224-454: A small portion means that each year this area has a chance of flooding of greater than 3.3%. North of the road and a cluster of houses connected with the parks is a narrow set of Paddocks and Bushy Park ; the Royal Mews graze horses on the park in the summer. The Long Water is a large garden canal constructed by Charles II, and given a curved extension at the palace end by William III. It
280-513: Is a Public Corporation but receives no funding from either the Government or the Crown , with all of its costs met by self-generated income. Visitor figures 2023 The charity primarily generates income from a combination of admissions and memberships, grants and donations, retail sales and other trading activities, and investment income. In the year to 31 March 2023, Historic Royal Palaces total income
336-692: Is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat . The chief attractions advertised by Historic Royal Palaces at the Tower include the Crown Jewels, the Tower Ravens , the White Tower and surrounding battlements, and St John's Chapel . Hampton Court Place is a historic palace located on the north bank of the River Thames near Hampton in Greater London , in
392-571: Is an 18th-century cottage orné within the grounds of Kew Gardens. The Great Pagoda was built in 1761 by Sir William Chambers as a present for Princess Augusta , the founder of the Kew Gardens . Historic Royal Palaces advertises Kew Palace as the home of George III and Queen Charlotte . The Royal Kitchens are a key attraction. Hillsborough Castle is a castle located in Royal Hillsborough , County Down , Northern Ireland . The castle
448-871: Is appointed by the King on the advice of the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport . Four Trustees are also appointed by the King, three as ex-officio appointments: the Director of the Royal Collection , the Keeper of the Privy Purse and the Lord Chamberlain . The remaining Trustees are appointed by the Secretary of State, two ex-officio: the Constable of the Tower of London and
504-497: Is held in 25 acres (10 ha) of the park. It is organized by the Royal Horticultural Society and began in 1990. Many prefer it to the better known Chelsea Flower Show because there is more space, and plants and equipment can be bought at the show. As it is the world's most popular event of this type extensive traffic jams can build up. The show has sometimes been criticized for risking damage to historic features in
560-564: Is managed as a cafe and restaurant. The Banqueting House , on Whitehall in the City of Westminster , central London , is the only large surviving component of the Palace of Whitehall , being one of grandest surviving examples of the architectural genre of banqueting houses in the classical style of Palladian architecture . The key attraction of the Banqueting House is the opulent decoration of
616-776: Is now the namesake of a lake of the 1730s in Kensington Gardens (see The Long Water ), and indeed other large garden canals at Wrest Park and elsewhere. It flows gently in the park roughly eastward from the back of Hampton Court Palace ending at the Golden Jubilee Fountain and is underground connected to a landscaped channel, the Longford River after the Upper Lodge Water Gardens and the Diana Fountain, Bushy Park . The annual Hampton Court Flower Show
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#1733084841002672-451: Is owned by the Government and its management is contracted to Historic Royal Palaces by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland . Historic Royal Palaces' trading arm, Historic Royal Palaces Enterprises Limited, is company wholly-owned by Historic Royal Palaces responsible for running the charity's commercial activities. The Board of Historic Royal Palaces consists of a Chair and eleven Trustees, all non-executive and unpaid. The Chair
728-682: Is the official residence in Northern Ireland of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland , and of the British monarch and other members of the British royal family when they visit the region, as well as a guest house for prominent international visitors. Historic Royal Palaces cites the 100 acres of picturesque gardens and castle State Rooms as attractions. The main categories of accessioned heritage assets held by Historic Royal Palaces are: Historic Royal Palaces also displays items on short and long-term loan, including: Historic Royal Palaces
784-448: The A308 road lightly scattered with deciduous trees line the northern wall. These trees, with few evergreens, continue across much of the park. There are three avenues of lime trees that radiate across the park in a crow's foot pattern from Hampton Court Gardens. One runs north-eastwards towards Kingston ; one runs south-eastwards towards Ditton ; and the third runs eastwards and includes
840-681: The Great Spring Show , is a garden show held for five days in May by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in Chelsea, London . Held at Chelsea since 1912, the show is attended by members of the British royal family . Highlights to the Chelsea Flower Show include the avant-garde show gardens designed by leading names with Floral Marquee at
896-583: The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames . Cardinal Wolsey began construction in 1514 of a royal palace, which was continued and expanded by Henry VIII after Wolsey's demise in 1530. Hampton Court Palace went on to become a centre of royal power in the Tudor period . The palace underwent extensive renovation in the Baroque style during the reign of William III , designed by Christopher Wren . Queen Victoria opened
952-630: The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London . The State Apartments were renovated in late 19th century and opened to the public (see History). Historic Royal Palaces advertises Kensington Palace as the birthplace and childhood residence of Queen Victoria , with the Jewel Room (containing jewellery commissioned by Queen Victoria) and the Queen's and King's State Apartments as key attractions. The Orangery
1008-460: The Banqueting Hall, including the ceiling painting by Rubens commissioned by Charles I . Historic Royal Palaces highlights Banqueting House as the execution site of Charles I. Kew Palace is a historic palace within the grounds of Kew Gardens on the south bank of the River Thames , near Kew in Greater London , in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames . Queen Charlotte's Cottage
1064-526: The Chairman of the Campaign Board. The Chief Executive is granted a general delegation to act on behalf of Trustees, save for reserved matters. The current Chief Executive is John Barnes, who has been in place since 2017. Lucy Worsley and Tracy Borman are co-curators for the charity. The Tower of London is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London , founded toward
1120-520: The First World War, the show was held 1914–1916, but was cancelled in 1917 and 1918. By the 1920s, the Chelsea Flower Show had returned to its previous form; the famous Chelsea tea parties were established and Royal visits resumed. In 1926 the show was held a week late due to the General Strike. In 1937, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth celebrated their Coronation Year, and an Empire Exhibition
1176-775: The London palaces on behalf of The King in Right of Crown, and in 2014 by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to manage Hillsborough Castle. In 2023, the University of Manchester partnered with Historic Royal Palaces to carry out research on the British monarchy 's link to slavery with full access to the Royal Archives and the Royal Collection . The study is expected to be completed by 2026. Davis, John R. (2024). "An Act of 'Queenly Beneficence'? A Historical Investigation of
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#17330848410021232-482: The London palaces since 1989, and Hillsborough Castle since 2014. Occupied royal palaces, such as Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle , are maintained by the Royal Household Property Section, and some are open to the public. Historic Royal Palaces is established as a Royal Charter Body with charitable status. The objectives of Historic Royal Palaces, as set out in its Royal Charter are, for
1288-685: The Long Water lake. Cardinal Wolsey enclosed with a wall about 2,000 acres (800 ha) to form this park and Bushy Park for the establishment of an exceptionally grand house over the former manor house of Hampton. It formed what became before his death Hampton Court Palace , taken over by Henry VIII . The king was an avid hunter and had the park used for breeding rabbits and/or hares, pheasants and partridges. The inventory of Cromwell's goods made in 1659 records "about 700 deer", compared to "about 1,700" and "about 30 red deer" in Bushy Park. A tree, called
1344-599: The Mediaeval Oak (or Methuselah's Oak), in one of the tees for the golf course in the southern part of the park, is said to be 750 years old. The public towpath by the lowest part of the non-tidal Thames above Teddington Lock lies in all other directions apart from the palace (west). An emergency conditions flood meadow but not a lowered "Flood Storage Area" most of it is in planning (policy Flood Zone 2 or 3, and mostly in long term flood risk zones ranging across its four categories (very low to high risk) High risk, affecting
1400-669: The Office of Works in a deal brokered by its Permanent Secretary Lord Esher , whereby in exchange the dilapidated Kensington Palace would be renovated as a residence for Queen Victoria's children, and its State Apartments opened to the public . In 1970 the Ministry of Public Building and Works was absorbed into the Department of the Environment , a super-ministry created by the newly-elected Heath government . The Ancient Monuments Department
1456-676: The Opening of Hampton Court Palace to the Public in the Nineteenth Century". The Court Historian . 29 (1): 17–32. doi : 10.1080/14629712.2024.2321780 . Historic Royal Palaces (31 March 2021). Trustees' Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2021 (Report). Historic Royal Palaces (31 March 2022). Trustees' Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2022 (Report). Historic Royal Palaces (31 March 2023). Trustees' Report and Financial Statements for
1512-441: The benefit of the nation: Historic Royal Palaces is a Public Corporation but receives no funding from either the Government or the Crown , with all of its costs met by self-generated income. The London palaces themselves are owned by the King in right of the Crown, and Historic Royal Palaces is contracted by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to manage the five London palaces on his behalf. Hillborough Castle
1568-502: The buildings' management. After several changes in management and oversight, the unoccupied palaces were transferred out of the Department of the Environment to a dedicated executive agency called Historic Royal Palaces on 1 October 1989, to be run as a commercial businesses under a chief executive. In 1998 Historic Royal Palaces became an independent charity contracted by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to manage
1624-779: The centrepiece. The Show also features smaller gardens such as the Artisan and Urban Gardens. The first Royal Horticultural Society Great Spring Show was held in 1862, at the RHS garden in Kensington . Before this date the RHS had held flower shows from 1833 in their garden in Chiswick , which themselves had been preceded by fetes. The Kensington Garden was chosen as a site because the flower shows in Chiswick were experiencing falling visitor numbers due to problems such as poor transport links. The Great Spring Show
1680-438: The council began to look seriously at the idea of moving the show to a larger venue. Battersea Park , Osterley Park , and Wisley were suggested; one proposal was that Chelsea should be limited to plant sales, and the sundries rerouted elsewhere; the firm Land Use Consultants was also hired to prepare a feasibility study. However, after considering these options, it was concluded that the show should stay at Chelsea. Despite this,
1736-717: The direct expenditure (including staff and support costs) attributable to each activity. Total expenditure in the year to 31 March 2023 was £82.1m, of which £68.5m was allocated to expenditure on charitable activities, including £22.5m on Palaces (conservation work on both the buildings and collections; research; acquistions; and maintenance of buildings and grounds), £40.1m on Experiences (exhibitions; special events; online activities; schools projects and programmes; and community events); £4.8m on costs attributable to fund-raising, membership and sponsorships; and £1.2m on workplace Culture. The remaining £13.9m allocated to costs of raising funds included £9.9m on retail activities. Management of
Hampton Court Park - Misplaced Pages Continue
1792-669: The end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest . The White Tower , which gives the castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078. The Tower of London has played a prominent role in English history , serving variously as an armoury , a treasury , a prison, a menagerie , the home of the Royal Mint , a public record office , and the home of the Crown Jewels of England . The Tower
1848-498: The external elevations of 'buildings of historical or national interest in the charge of the War Office' was transferred to the Office of Works in 1898, with the War Office retaining operational control of the active sites. The Tower, along with all its military buildings, staff and tourist income was fully transferred to the Office of Works in 1903. Kew Palace and Queen Charlotte's Cottage in Kew Gardens were transferred to
1904-645: The grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea for this one-off event. It proved such a good site for an exhibition that the Great Spring Show was moved there in 1913, where it has taken place almost every year since. There have been two breaks for world wars. The RHS first became involved with the Chelsea Hospital in 1905. Three years before, it had leased the grounds of Holland House in Kensington to hold what
1960-522: The grounds of the Royal Hospital. The 2011 show also saw the introduction of the new Artisan garden category, which was created for designers who use natural materials. At the 2023 show, Catherine, Princess of Wales , hosted the first children's picnic at a newly created garden at the show with pupils from ten schools from the RHS's school gardening campaign invited. In 2024 the show was visited by King Charles III and Queen Camilla . Since 2022
2016-415: The management of historic buildings from DAMHB outside of direct government control. The government did not think it appropriate however that the unoccupied royal palaces be included in the transfer (for fear of the appearance of privatisation ), and the regulatory status of the palaces remain split across several bodies until a catastrophic fire at Hampton Court Palace in 1986 highlighted the deficiencies in
2072-423: The mornings that the turnstiles were temporarily closed. It was decided to open the show at 8 a.m. the next year, and close it at 8.30 p.m. in the evenings, with a reduced price for entry after 4 p.m., to try to draw people away from the morning timeslot; a one-way system was also laid out in the marquee (a solution that had been rejected as impractical 20 years earlier). The new arrangements for
2128-558: The old Kensington shows, the 1888 show was a success with exhibits from both amateurs and commercial firms. By 1897 five marquees were being used with many of the best known plant and seed merchants being attracted to the event including Suttons and Sons . In 1912, the Temple Show was cancelled to make way for the Royal International Horticultural Exhibition . Sir Harry Veitch , the great nurseryman, secured
2184-494: The palace to the public in 1838. Historic Royal Palaces advertises Hampton Court Palace as the "home of Henry VIII", focussing on the dramas and lives of Henry VIII , his wives and their children in the world of the Tudor court. The baroque palace built for William III and Mary II, 60 acres of gardens and Magic Garden adventure playground are key attractions. Kensington Palace is a royal residence set in Kensington Gardens , in
2240-562: The park. 51°24′04″N 0°19′26″W / 51.401°N 0.324°W / 51.401; -0.324 Historic Royal Palaces Historic Royal Palaces is an independent charity that manages the United Kingdom's unoccupied royal palaces: Historic Royal Palaces is also responsible for Hillsborough Castle , Northern Ireland , the official residence in Northern Ireland of the King . Historic Royal Palaces has managed
2296-399: The part nearest to the palace has the Long Water — an early set of hydro-engineered ponds or lakes, fed by water from the distant River Colne , as are the bodies of water in the neighbouring park, Bushy Park . Hampton Court Park is a walled deer park of around 700 acres (280 ha) (1.1 sq mi), with a herd of fallow deer , and has been open to the public since 1894. Verges by
Hampton Court Park - Misplaced Pages Continue
2352-439: The second half of the 20th century and crowding became a major problem. Crowding within the tents had been a recurring issue during the interwar years, but was always handled by increasing the number of tents; photographs show heavy crowds in the open, especially in the vicinity of the rock gardens. As the 1970s progressed, attendance at the show climbed by 6,000 visitors in a single year (1978). In 1979, crowding became so severe in
2408-534: The show has become an important venue for watching trends. New plants are often launched at the show and the popularity of older varieties revived under the focus of the horticultural world. Highlights from the 2011 RHS Chelsea Flower Show included The Irish Sky Garden by Diarmuid Gavin , based on the idea of a restaurant in the sky. Other notable gardens included the HESCO Garden by Leeds City Council , who reconstructed an impressive and idyllic working water wheel in
2464-490: The show was increased from four days to five, with the first two days only open to RHS members. The show is extensively covered on television by the BBC . An official DVD of the show is produced on behalf of the RHS by ONE TWO FOUR . Several members of the British royal family attend a preview of the show, as part of the royal patronage of the RHS. The area of land devoted to show gardens increased steadily between 1970 and 2000 and
2520-457: The show were successful in 1980, and a majority of the Council voted for the imposition of a ceiling on the number of tickets sold. However, visitor numbers continued to increase, and in 1987 the turnstiles were closed again. In 1988 a cap had to be placed on the number of visitors attending the show due to problems that were occurring with overcrowding. A limit of 40,000 visitors per day was imposed –
2576-548: The show's programme was expanded into other venues, with the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show taken over in 1993; the increased options for both members and for exhibitors meant that the intense criticisms and conflict of the 1980s over the future of the show did not return. The Chelsea Flower Show is attended by 157,000 visitors each year (a number limited by the capacity of the 11-acre (4.5 ha) ground), and all tickets must be purchased in advance. From 2005
2632-572: The unoccupied Royal palaces in London was consolidated in the Office of Works over the course of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Informal tours of Hampton Court Palace had been available since the Elizabethan era, and by the 18th century access to the Palace and tours of the Royal Collection were arranged for small groups by the housekeeper, and included in tourists' guide books. Hampton Court Palace
2688-540: The year ended 31 March 2023 (Report). Impey, Edward ; Parnell, Geoffrey (2000). The Tower of London: The Official Illustrated History . Merrell Publishers in association with Historic Royal Palaces . ISBN 978-1-85894-106-6 . Thurley, Simon (2013). Men from the Ministry: how Britain saved its Heritage . London: Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300195729 . Chelsea Flower Show The RHS Chelsea Flower Show , formally known as
2744-510: The years thereafter, except in 1911, when both it and Chelsea proved unavailable, and the Show was held at the Olympia exhibition hall. The Royal International Horticultural Exhibition of 1912 used the grounds of Chelsea Hospital as the site for the show, and for 1913, the Great Spring Show was moved there. The first Chelsea Flower Show opened on 20 May. The Summer Show reverted to Holland House. Despite
2800-513: Was amalgamated with the listed buildings section of the former Ministry of Housing in 1972 to create the Directorate of Ancient Monuments and Historic Buildings (DAMHB) as a specialised and autonomous body overseeing English heritage monuments and buildings. The Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission (soon to be known as English Heritage ) was created in 1984 by the Thatcher government to move
2856-479: Was first advertised as a Coronation Rose Show, but which turned into a more general show (with not many roses) by the time it actually opened in June. Two further two-day summer shows took place at Holland House in 1903 and 1904, but then, to the general satisfaction of exhibitors and press, a three-day Summer Show was staged in the hospital grounds, a more spacious site than Holland House had allowed, with room for five tents. The Summer Shows reverted to Holland House for
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#17330848410022912-473: Was held at Kensington for twenty-six years but in 1888 the RHS decided to move the show to the heart of London. The site chosen was the Temple Gardens , situated between the Embankment and Fleet Street , which had a recorded history dating back to 1307 and which were said to date from the time of the Knights Templar . The roses for which these Temple Gardens were famous were alluded to in Shakespeare 's Henry VI Part 1 . Using three marquees requisitioned from
2968-419: Was obtainable only with special permits, but Lord Aberconway (then RHS President) and the RHS Council felt strongly that the show should resume as soon as possible. The show eventually successfully went ahead in 1947. The Queen attended in 1953, the year of her coronation , and she was also a regular visitor prior to this date with her father, George VI. The show went on to increase in popularity throughout
3024-417: Was officially opened to the public in November 1838, and the Office of Works made responsible for opening the Palace from Sunday to Thursday (closing Friday for cleaning). The War Office and its predecessor bodies had managed the Tower of London since the 15th century, using the White Tower as its headquarters and surrounding buildings for storage. Responsibility for the repair and restoration of
3080-465: Was staged to mark the occasion. It featured wattles from Australia, pines from Canada, gladioli from East Africa and even a prickly pear from Palestine. The show was cancelled during the Second World War, as the land was required by the War Office for an anti-aircraft site. Some doubt arose as to whether the show would resume in 1947. The majority of exhibitors wanted a postponement, as stocks of plants were low, staff much depleted and fuel for greenhouses
3136-472: Was £102.5m, more than half of which (£63.3m) coming from ticket admissions to the various sites, 80% of which was collected at the Tower of London. Membership income from the 137,777 members totalled £4.6m. Retail income from the site gift shops and online sales totalled £15m, and functions and events raised £6.4m. The charity's expenses are classified under the principal headings of 'Costs of raising funds' and 'Expenditure on charitable activities', comprising
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