Renaissance
Images of 16th and 17th century houses and palaces in England and Scotland
Burghley House was built for Sir William Cecil, later 1st Baron Burghley, who was Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I, between 1558 and 1587 and modelled on the privy lodgings of Richmond Palace. An aerial view as it appears today.
Dunfermline Palace is attached to the historic Dunfermline Abbey, occupying a site between the abbey and deep gorge to the south. Much of the building occupies what was originally the guest house of the abbey, but also reflects the form in which the building was developed by James IV in his adaptations around 1500. Throughout the sixteenth century, Scotland's monarchs and royal family members were frequently in residence. In 1589 the palace was given as a wedding present by the king, James VI and I, to Anne of Denmark after their marriage. She gave birth to three of their children there: Elizabeth (1596), Charles (1600) and Robert (1602). This image is a detail from a cutaway showing the palace in 1600 following the birth of the future King Charles I in 1600. Commissioned by Historic Environment Scotland.
Elcho Castle is located a short distance above the south bank of the River Tay approximately four miles south-east of Perth, Scotland. The Castle was built on the site of an older structure about 1560, and is one of the best surviving examples of its date in Scotland. Commissioned by Historic Environment Scotland, showing a mid 17th-century scene.
Huntly Palace at its height in the early 17th century. Commissioned by Historic Environment Scotland
Old London Bridge, the central portion, reconstructed as in the 1590s. Commissioned by Country Life and the London Topographical Society
Nonsuch Palace was a Tudor royal palace, built by Henry VIII in Surrey; it stood from 1538 to 1682–3. Its site lies in Nonsuch Park. It was perhaps the grandest of Henry VIII's building projects. Work started on 22 April 1538, six months after the birth of his son, later Edward VI. Construction had been substantially carried out by 1541, but it would take several more years to complete. The palace was costly because of its rich ornamentation and is considered a key work in the introduction of elements of Renaissance design to England. Commissioned by Country Life.
Oatlands Palace, Surrey, circa 1540. Henry VIII acquired the house in 1538, and rebuilt it for Anne of Cleves. The palace was built around three main adjoining quadrangular courtyards covering fourteen hectares and utilising an existing 15th-century moated manor house. He married Catherine Howard in the palace on 28 July 1540. Commissioned by Country Life.
Old Somerset House on The Strand, London, in the 17th century. Commissioned by Country Life.
Renaissance Whitehall Palace, commissioned by Historic Royal Palaces.
Winchester as it might have been: built for King Charles II of England by Sir Christopher Wren from 1683, the King's House (top right) stood on a site adjoining the castle it was to replace, and was modelled after the Palace of Versailles, though on a somewhat smaller scale. It was to have sweeping views, walks and gardens descending to the cathedral. Although structurally completed, money ran out and the project was eventually abandoned. The building was gutted by fire in 1894 and demolished. The image, developed with the advice of Simon Thurley for an article in Country Life, shows the city as it might have appeared had the royal palace become established.
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burleighhouse c
Burghley House was built for Sir William Cecil, later 1st Baron Burghley, who was Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I, between 1558 and 1587 and modelled on the privy lodgings of Richmond Palace. An aerial view as it appears today.
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dunfermlinepalcirca1600
Dunfermline Palace is attached to the historic Dunfermline Abbey, occupying a site between the abbey and deep gorge to the south. Much of the building occupies what was originally the guest house of the abbey, but also reflects the form in which the building was developed by James IV in his adaptations around 1500. Throughout the sixteenth century, Scotland's monarchs and royal family members were frequently in residence. In 1589 the palace was given as a wedding present by the king, James VI and I, to Anne of Denmark after their marriage. She gave birth to three of their children there: Elizabeth (1596), Charles (1600) and Robert (1602). This image is a detail from a cutaway showing the palace in 1600 following the birth of the future King Charles I in 1600. Commissioned by Historic Environment Scotland.
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elchohallweb
Elcho Castle is located a short distance above the south bank of the River Tay approximately four miles south-east of Perth, Scotland. The Castle was built on the site of an older structure about 1560, and is one of the best surviving examples of its date in Scotland. Commissioned by Historic Environment Scotland, showing a mid 17th-century scene.
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huntlyweb
Huntly Palace at its height in the early 17th century. Commissioned by Historic Environment Scotland
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londonbridgecirca1590 c
Old London Bridge, the central portion, reconstructed as in the 1590s. Commissioned by Country Life and the London Topographical Society
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nonsuch c
Nonsuch Palace was a Tudor royal palace, built by Henry VIII in Surrey; it stood from 1538 to 1682–3. Its site lies in Nonsuch Park. It was perhaps the grandest of Henry VIII's building projects. Work started on 22 April 1538, six months after the birth of his son, later Edward VI. Construction had been substantially carried out by 1541, but it would take several more years to complete. The palace was costly because of its rich ornamentation and is considered a key work in the introduction of elements of Renaissance design to England. Commissioned by Country Life.
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oatlandspalace c
Oatlands Palace, Surrey, circa 1540. Henry VIII acquired the house in 1538, and rebuilt it for Anne of Cleves. The palace was built around three main adjoining quadrangular courtyards covering fourteen hectares and utilising an existing 15th-century moated manor house. He married Catherine Howard in the palace on 28 July 1540. Commissioned by Country Life.
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oldsomersethouse c
Old Somerset House on The Strand, London, in the 17th century. Commissioned by Country Life.
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whitehallpalace1603
Renaissance Whitehall Palace, commissioned by Historic Royal Palaces.
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winchester c
Winchester as it might have been: built for King Charles II of England by Sir Christopher Wren from 1683, the King's House (top right) stood on a site adjoining the castle it was to replace, and was modelled after the Palace of Versailles, though on a somewhat smaller scale. It was to have sweeping views, walks and gardens descending to the cathedral. Although structurally completed, money ran out and the project was eventually abandoned. The building was gutted by fire in 1894 and demolished. The image, developed with the advice of Simon Thurley for an article in Country Life, shows the city as it might have appeared had the royal palace become established.