Henry VIII is one of the most familiar figures in history, and this book looks at the places where the events of his life unfolded. The first part of the book is a journey along the River Thames from the site of Greenwich Palace to Hampton Court, taking in the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and Richmond Palace, as well as more minor places associated with Henry, such as Winchester Palace in Southwark, where he first encountered Catherine Howard, and Syon Abbey, where his coffin rested on its journey to his funeral at Windsor.
The second part of the book looks at properties and palaces outside London, beginning with Windsor Castle, where Henry is buried, and then broadening its scope to include places such as Dover Castle, Southsea Castle and York and finishing up in Northern France and Belgium where Henry jousted with Francis I at the Field of the Cloth of Gold near Calais and gave thanks in Tournai cathedral for his capture of the town. In each case the book looks at how much of the place that Henry knew survives – from the improvements he made at Hampton Court that are still intact, to properties such as Nonsuch Palace in Surrey, of which next to nothing survives.
The book includes a number of mono photographs. Click here for a photo gallery for the book that includes these photos in colour, plus other photos that could not be included in the book for reasons of space.
The book is published by Pen & Sword. Click here for the entry for the book on their website. It can be purchased from amazon.co.uk or amazon.com by following these links.
This is my third book for Pen & Sword that looks at the life and times of a historical personality through the places that are associated with them. The other two books “followed in the footsteps” of the Princes in the Tower and King Arthur – see under “Historical Books” in the right hand column.
Henry VIII – A History of His Most Important Places and Events by Andrew Beattie.