From Wolsey to the king
Cardinal Wolsey began building in 1515 and gave the palace to Henry VIII in 1529, a year before his death. Henry set about enlarging it at once.
The Great Hall and the kitchens
The Great Hall, with its carved hammerbeam roof, was added between 1532 and 1535. To feed the court, Henry quadrupled the size of the kitchens, which you can still walk through today.
A clock of the heavens
The astronomical clock was installed on the gatehouse in 1540; the gate is now known as Anne Boleyn’s Gate. Jane Seymour gave birth to the future Edward VI at the palace in 1537 and died about two weeks later.



