ORA students at St Hugh’s transformed into kings and queens this week as they took a trip the spectacular Hampton Court Palace.

Hampton Court Palace

Constructed by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey in the early 1500s, the Palace caught the attention of the infamous King Henry VIII after the death of his Lord Chancellor. Used by the King for his private residence, lavish court and extravagant parties, the Palace quickly became a hub of activity in Tudor Britain.

The life of the Palace didn’t stop there. With kings like Charles I storing his amazing art collections in the Palace and William Cromwell fancying living here like royalty, Hampton Court has seen lots of history during its lifetime.

It is interesting, as our students noted, to be able to see physical evidence of the different eras in which the Palace has been in use. From the obvious red Tudor brick to the Baroque-style Palace added by William III and Mary II in the 17-18th centuries, it is clear to see how Hampton Court has been changed throughout time.

As well as discussing the stylistic puzzle pieces that make Hampton Court, pupils enjoyed looking at the expansive art collection and some were particularly captivated by the unbelievable tapestries in the Great Hall. Haunting ghost stories about people who died in the Palace, such as Jane Seymour (Henry VIII’s third wife) who supposedly appears annually, spooked pupils and left them wondering about how much they believed in the supernatural.

After a leisurely stroll around the beautiful gardens and the Long Water, a canal constructed by Charles II as he awaited the arrival of his bride Catherine of Braganza, students wandered back to the coach excitedly discussing the tales and facts they had learnt through the day.

ORA students at St Hugh’s have some exciting workshops in store over the next few days, as well as ORA’s Got Talent before their Graduation on Friday. Check back to read more about their second week.