Sunday, November 29, 2015

Eltham Palace and Gardens

Several people suggested taking the train from London to visit Eltham Palace and Gardens, a unique property featuring both Tudor history and 1930s Hollywood glamor and Art Deco design. 

Once a medieval royal palace and a base for deer hunting by the Tudors, millionaire textile tycoon Stephen Courtauld and his wife Virginia bought the property in the early 1930s - restoring the Great Hall, building a luxurious Art Deco-inspired mansion and beautifying nearly 19 acres of grounds.

Doug at the bridge over the moat.


North Court and entrance to the Courtauld mansion (on the left), which is managed by the English Heritage - the custodian of over 400 historic monuments, buildings and sites.


(close-up of the exterior ornate door, seen in the above photo on the far right, to the Great Hall)


(restored Great Hall, built for Edward IV nearly 500 years ago)



(sunken Rose Garden)


(South Lawn)

(the Rock Garden with pools and cascades running down to the moat)




Doug and I had lunch at the cafe/tea room at the visitor centre.


(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

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