Eltham Palace
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Eltham_palace_exterior.jpeg
Historic palace
The original Palace was bought by Edward II in 1305 and used as a royal residence from the 14th century to the 16th century. The current house was built in the 1930s on the site of the original. It incorporates Edward IV's great hall (1470s). According to one account the incident which inspired the foundation of the Order of the Garter took place here.
Modern house
In 1931 Stephen and Virginia Courtauld acquired the lease of the palace site and restored the Great Hall while building a beautiful Art Deco home (Stephen was the younger brother of industrialist and art collector Samuel Courtauld, founder of the Courtauld Institute of Art). The Courtaulds remained at Eltham until 1944 when they moved to Scotland, giving the palace to the Army Educational Corps in March 1945 which remained there until 1992.
In 1995 English Heritage assumed management of the palace, and in 1999 completed major repairs and restorations of the interiors and gardens.Eltham_palace_great_hall.jpeg
The palace is open to the public and can be hired for weddings and other functions. Nearest train station is Eltham railway station, a short walk from the palace.
Eltham_palace_interior.jpg
External link
- [Heritage Eltham Palace site (http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/elthampalace/|English)]