Picture of the Week #116

Wax figure of Elizabeth I. Photo June 2000.

This was one of the figures at Brading – The Experience, a waxworks museum on the Isle of Wight that I was sad to learn closed down last year. The building they occupied was said to be the oldest house on the island and was owned by Henry VIII from 1539-1546. It was a really neat building so I hope that it will be repurposed and still accessible.

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Picture of the Week #114

St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. Photo May 1998.

Construction of St. George’s Chapel began in the reign of Edward IV and was completed in the reign of Henry VIII (and both kings are buried there). Henry VIII of course lies alongside Jane Seymour, and his longtime friend Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk is also interred in the chapel.

Picture of the Week #109

Gatehouse section of the remaining parts of Richmond Palace. Photo May 2000.

You can see the Tudor arms over the archway and the blue rectangle to the right side is one of the few signs identifying this as part of Richmond Palace. Close-ups of those will be featured here in the weeks to come.

Picture of the Week #104

Former place of the Shrine of Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral. Photo May 2003.

This was another one of those times that I had the perfect photo for the day a “Picture of the Week” fell on. The martyrdom of Becket occurred 840 years ago today in 1170 and the Tudor connection is that the shrine was destroyed in 1538 under orders of Henry VIII.

Picture of the Week #102

Arms of Catherine of Aragon at Carew Castle in Wales. Photo May 2003.

This is a close-up of Catherine’s arms that are visible in the wider shot that I had way back as Picture of the Week #8. Her arms are a combination of those of Aragon (upper right and lower left) and Castile (upper left and lower right), as seen below (image adapted from a file at Wikimedia Commons):

Picture of the Week #100

Carvings under the Anne Boleyn Gatehouse at Hampton Court Palace. Photo June 2000.

Wow, I’ve hit 100 Pictures of the Week!

If I remember correctly, these carvings are Victorian. The figures are an entwined “H&A” and “A&H”, the portcullis (a Beaufort symbol), Anne Boleyn’s falcon badge, the fleur-de-lis and in the center, an intricate Tudor rose.

Picture of the Week #98

Sign on the tree in Hatfield Park at the spot where Elizabeth was told of the death of Mary I and that she was now Queen. Photo May 1998.

The text of the sign reads:

THIS OAK TREE WAS PLANTED BY
HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II
ON 22nd JULY 1985
ON THE SITE OF THE ORIGINAL OAK
TREE UNDER WHICH
HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH I
HEARD OF HER SUCCESSION TO THE THRONE

If I remember correctly, the original tree fell in a storm, which is why the replacement was planted in 1985 (a month before the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Tudor dynasty, I would add). I don’t remember seeing it, but I’ve been told that remains of the original tree are (or have been) on display at the property. From more recent photos I’ve seen tree has grown quite a bit since I saw it last (in May 2000) and the sign is now mounted higher and is easier to see.