The setting for Promise of Purity is Hampton Court Palace and the village of East Molesey, England. Oh, the history behind the walls of the red brick edifice that shines golden in the sunlight. Known as Henry VIII’s most famous royal residence, he finished the remodeling project around 1540. The Great Hall, the kitchens, the chapel, and the gardens prospered and grew under the building programs when King Henry VIII dipped into his coffers where monies from the desecration of the Catholic churches and monasteries rested. Supposedly the ghosts of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard roam the halls in the family section of the castle.
Other monarchs expanded the palace from the Tudor style to include the additions of Charles I and II, William and Mary, and George III. The Gardens continued to occupy the imaginations of the occupants. Those gardens are where I placed Kate in 1661. Those beautiful, cultivated and wild, ornate, colorful, romantic, sprawling, and walled gardens bring delight to this day.
I have visited Hampton Court Palace and the gardens five times and hope to wander the paths again someday. The most recent time was in June 2022 with two author friends. Since I had already written Kate’s story, I was walking in her footsteps in 1661 during Charles II’s reign. What a thrill! I hope you love the gardens as much as I do. The history is rich and full, sometimes troubling and dramatic.
I found a beautiful site for you to do your own exploring: https://www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace/visit/#gs.ou4fqp There is a great history and story section. The pictures are lovely and maybe if you ponder them enough you can visualize your own walk through the grounds.
Happy daydreaming.
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Thank you for sharing the images! I can’t believe we (your faithful readers) will finally be able to read it! I book-marked the Hampton Court website to look at while reading, to visualize Kate’s journey!
What a beautiful setting! I love how your love of the palace comes through in the story. You really bring it to life and let me imagine myself walking the gardens.
Thank you, Janice! I’m glad to connect with you here. I hope all is going well for you!