Puzzle palace

Henry’s palaces were designed to restrict access to the King and to channel people to the spaces appropriate to their rank.

Hampton Court is still the biggest and best surviving example of this type of royal filtering system.

Courtiers entering the Great Gatehouse to join Henry’s court would enter the first courtyard, Base Court. This was an ‘arrivals’ area, with guest lodgings on three sides.

As many as 1,000 courtiers and their servants would cram into Hampton Court; the courtyards full of milling crowds intent on business and pleasure (and furthering their own careers).