Following a brief orientation of the area, we toured the palace, from the kitchens to the Great Hall and Henry VIII’s other public rooms, completing an extensive questionnaire as we went, and learning about the scale of the palace and the changes that were brought about during the Tudor era. Congratulations to Leona Shao, who won a copy of Simon Thurley’s Houses of Power for the highest number of correct answers.
Mr Jones and Mr Fisher then led smaller tours through Henry VIII’s supposedly ‘lost’ privy chambers, noting how despite newer renovations, there is still evidence of the Tudors’ presence, ranging from the distinct window arches to the intricate Tudor roses adorning the ceilings.
The day revealed to us how, in such a historic location, there is often a lot more to learn if you just know where to look.
