Tudor Court seen from Castle Road

Image: © Marathon Taken: 4 Apr 2012

Hanworth Manor, also known as Hanworth Palace, was a royal residence of Henry VIII. It had belonged to the Crosby family before being acquired by Henry VII towards the end of his reign and officially became the property of Henry VIII in 1515. During Henry VIII's reign Hanworth became a royal seat and Henry spent much time there. In 1532 Henry VIII bestowed Hanworth on Anne Boleyn, soon to become his queen, and the residence was extensively decorated. After Anne Boleyn was executed in 1536 the house reverted back to the king but in 1544 the estate was given to Queen Catherine Parr who retained it until her death in 1548. In 1627 the house ceased being a royal residence. The new owner Lord Cottington largely rebuilt the house with stables and various garden houses and walls, but in 1797 the house was destroyed by fire and a subsequent house (Hanworth Park House) was built in Hanworth Park. This is now semi derelict – see http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2886196 for more of the history of the later Hanworth Park House. Very little of the Tudor Hanworth Manor remains, apart from a small stretch of moat and various architectural and decorative features which have been incorporated into later buildings. These include red brick vaults of former kitchen fireplaces, part of the garden wall and two terracotta roundels. Various 18th century garden houses and walls are all that remain of the later phases of the house. The flats called Tudor Court on Castle Road, seen here, were originally stables.

Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0