Somerset House - The Old Palaces Tour

The Old Palaces Tour is one of Somerset House’s tour that is run on a weekly basis, exploring the history that was before the building that it has become now. The tour takes runs twice on a Tuesday, except on major events which inevitably will have to put off the tours until they are over such as the London Fashion Show. Another tour of interest is the Historical Highlights of Somerset House which runs on a Thursday and Saturday. The tour gives access to the Strand baths located around the corner to Somerset House. 

Edward Seymour having taken over from Edward VI as king as he was too young to rule, proved to be very unpopular when he knocked down neighbouring buildings to extend the existing palace. He was arrested twice, with the first being let off, but the second time he was charged.

Queen Elizabeth took over the house but preferred to stay at St. James’s Palace. With the developments came a 3-storey gatehouse leading on to the Great Court, then on to the Great Hall and an ornate garden with views of the river.

During the 17th Century, the Somerset House Conference were formed beginning a peace treaty between the representatives of Spanish Netherlands, Spain and England. You can see a painting of them in the National Portrait Gallery in Room 2, showing them sitting around a table. To be noted that you can also see the interiors of the old palace walls in the painting.

3 Stuart Queens took to Somerset House as their personal residence. The first was Ann of Denmark who renamed the palace as Denmark House, who held social and cultural events of London giving a whole redesign to the palace. She erected a 13 feet high Italian fountain in the garden.

The second Queen, Henrietta Maria, erected a Roman Catholic chapel. Oliver Cromwell defaced and stripped the chapel causing an uprise against Henrietta Maria’s husband, King Charles I. Henrietta Maria fled to France while Charles I remained to fight off against Cromwell. In 1649, Charles I was executed and Oliver Cromwell sold off items which included all paintings at rock bottom prices, which meant that the nation had lost a lot of art treasures. Ironically, Oliver Cromwell lay in state after his death at Somerset House after removing a lot from the house. Henrietta Maria did return and redid the chapel and built a palladium gallery, but in 1665, she fleed again following the Great Plague.

Somerset House’s Deadhouse is where 5 memorial stones commemorating people associated the house can be found. These were designed for the chapel that once stood at Somerset House and were salvaged when it was demolished.

Catherine of Brazanga was to take up residence with Christopher Wren refurbishing the palace. She left after her husband King Charles II died and returned to Portugal. Interestingly enough, it is said that she introduced tea drinking to Great Britain. George III and Queen Charlotte were given the house but declined as the place was in ruins. The Government exchanged rights to Buckingham House (now famously known as Buckingham Palace) for the old Tudor palace. The Govermnent had then demolished the whole building and rebuilt the grounds.

The grand finale to the tour is the Strand Lane bath which is also the location for the boundary of the old garden. The fountain measures 1.9m by 4.75m with a rounded end and 1.4m deep. Intrigue comes from the true origin which is completely shrouded with mystery as to when it was made and its mention in Charles Dickens’ Copperfield. It is said that it is not a Roman relic and was created in the early 17th century. It was acquired by the National Trust in 1948. It was originally used as a feeder to the fountain in Somerset House’s garden during Anne of Denmark’s residence.

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