Richmond Palace

Richmond Palace was a grand Tudor royal residence beside the River Thames in what is now the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Built in about 1501 by Henry VII, it replaced the older Sheen Palace on the same site. The palace stood on the opposite bank from the Palace of Westminster, nine miles upstream. Its name came from Henry’s former title as Earl of Richmond. Before the palace, the area was known as Sheen, a manor first recorded in 1125. The town grew around the royal residence, and its name changed with Henry’s command in 1500.

The palace became a favourite home of Elizabeth I, who died there in 1603. It remained a royal residence until Charles I’s execution in 1649. After his death, Parliament ordered the palace sold and mostly demolished within ten years. Only fragments survive today, including a gatehouse. The site now lies between Richmond Green and the river, marked by street names like Old Palace Lane. Excavations in the 1970s helped reconstruct its layout. Drawings and records describe a large brick and stone building with Renaissance features such as long galleries and ornate chimneys.

Visitors today find the surviving gatehouse near the river, a quiet reminder of the palace’s past. The area around Richmond Green still reflects its royal history. Nearby Richmond Park, once a royal hunting ground, remains open to the public. The park covers a vast area and offers peaceful walks with views of the Thames. Local streets bear names that hint at the palace’s former presence. The gatehouse stands as one of the few visible traces of a once-great residence. The setting along the riverbank keeps the memory of Tudor grandeur alive.