ROYAL PALACES OF
QUEEN ELIZABETH I

Nonsuch Palace, in Surrey, was a majestical Tudor Palace commissioned by King Henry VIII in 1538 to celebrate the birth of his longed for son, Edward VI. King Henry VIII wanted it to be the most magnificent palace in the world, hence the name, and it certainly made an impression, even though it was smaller than some of the other palaces. King Henry VIII died before the palace was completed, however, and it remained unfinished until Queen Mary I gave it to Henry FitzAlan, 19th Earl of Arundel.

For most of Queen Elizabeth's reign, the palace remained in the possession of the Earl of Arundel and his family, but in the early 1590s she bought the palace from the now dead Earl's son in law, John, Baron Lumley. The palace was soon her favourite. It was at Nonsuch Palace that Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, burst into the Queen's room without permission after returning from Ireland.

Nonsuch Palace
Speed Map 1610
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In 1670s King Charles II gave the palace to his mistress, Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland, who became Baroness of Nonsuch, but she dismantled the palace to pay her gambling debts.

PALACES