Question from David - Tunnel between Hampton Court and Nonsuch Palaces
I believe there is a tunnel between Hampton court place and Nonsuch Palace (now demolished). Can you confirm this and point to any sources of info please?
I couldn't find any references to a tunnel in Thurley's "The Royal Palaces of Tudor England". He did, however, discuss that Nonsuch was a "satellite" palace of Hampton Court, meaning that the whole court would be at Hampton Court, but Henry and some of his closer companions could use Nonsuch as a smaller retreat, but still have the whole court close by. Perhaps someone misinterpreted this to mean that the two palaces were physically connected?
If there is a detailed discussion somewhere of the 1959 excavations of Nonsuch, there would probably be a note there if such a tunnel existed. Considering the two palaces are 5-10 miles apart with a river in between, I think it is unlikely there was a tunnel, but I guess it's not impossible.
i am absoulutly sure their was a tunnel i worked with the garden superindent in 1976-1977 and he told me that whilst working their one day he was watching a tractor working up and down the field he looked away a minute and when he looked back it had disappeared into what was atunnel to hampton court i also did wonder about the river being in the way anyway you probably wont believe the next bit of this story i now live in aldwick west sussex and was having a pint in the not that many years ago and two old boys were talking at the bar about yes the tunnel linking nonsuch palace with hampton court so i would pretty much say for sure it did or still does exist in part william saundrs had been about a bit and he wasnt one for making things up if you see this dont be frightened to give me a ring 01243867689
2 comments:
I couldn't find any references to a tunnel in Thurley's "The Royal Palaces of Tudor England". He did, however, discuss that Nonsuch was a "satellite" palace of Hampton Court, meaning that the whole court would be at Hampton Court, but Henry and some of his closer companions could use Nonsuch as a smaller retreat, but still have the whole court close by. Perhaps someone misinterpreted this to mean that the two palaces were physically connected?
If there is a detailed discussion somewhere of the 1959 excavations of Nonsuch, there would probably be a note there if such a tunnel existed. Considering the two palaces are 5-10 miles apart with a river in between, I think it is unlikely there was a tunnel, but I guess it's not impossible.
i am absoulutly sure their was a tunnel i worked with the garden superindent in 1976-1977 and he told me that whilst working their one day he was watching a tractor working up and down the field he looked away a minute and when he looked back it had disappeared into what was atunnel to hampton court i also did wonder about the river being in the way anyway you probably wont believe the next bit of this story i now live in aldwick west sussex and was having a pint in the not that many years ago and two old boys were talking at the bar about yes the tunnel linking nonsuch palace with hampton court so i would pretty much say for sure it did or still does exist in part william saundrs had been about a bit and he wasnt one for making things up if you see this dont be frightened to give me a ring 01243867689
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