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.

Picture of the Week #92

Decorations on the outside of Henry VII’s chapel at Westminster Abbey. Photo May 2003.

In particular, you can see that the Beaufort portcullis is featured many times on this part of the Abbey. There are some Tudor roses and French fleurs-de-lis as well.

Picture of the Week #86

A section of Lord Leycester Hospital, Warwick. Photo May 1998.

The Lord Leycester Hospital is named in honor of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, who came in to possession of the old medieval guildhall buildings and chapel (which range from Norman to 14th century). Dudley created the Hospital as a retirement facility for old soldiers and their wives, a function it still serves today.

This is another place on my “to visit again” list since I didn’t actually get a chance to go in to the building when I was there in 1998.