Nonsuch Park was once the site of a Tudor Royal Palace. One can only imagine what Nonsuch Park would be like today if the palace had not been demolished hundreds of years ago.
Below is a short history of Nonsuch Palace and in addition if you click on the image of King Henry Vlll you can find out more of the story of Nonsuch by following the 'Nonsuch Walk' on the map.
A Short history of Nonsuch Palace
King Henry VIII began to build Nonsuch Palace on 22 April 1538, the thirtieth anniversary of his accession. The King's advisors chose a site then occupied by the village of Cuddington, with its church and manor house. These were cleared away and the owners compensated. Within two months of work beginning, the name 'Nonsuch' first appears in the building accounts. The structure was perhaps substantially complete by January 1541, but the decorations of the outside walls, which were to be the fame of Nonsuch and the explanation of Henry's purpose in its creation, were still in progress five years later. By November 1545 the work had cost £24,536 - half as much again as was spent at Hampton Court in the same period. When Henry died on 28 January 1547, the palace was still unfinished, but what little remained to be done was completed by Henry Fitzalan, twelfih earl of Arundel, after his purchase of the palace from the crown in 1556. Elizabeth I regained Nonsuch in 1592. It remained in Royal hands (apart from the Commonwealth) until 1670, when Charles II gave it to his erstwhile mistress, Barbara Villiers, created Baroness Nonsuch, Duchess of Cleveland. She demolished the palace in 1682-3 and broke up the parks. The site was excavated in 1959.
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Originally Posted by hobbes
an example, although the modern building holds little charm
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