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 16th
& 17th Centuries: Royal Influences
 Frederick,
Prince of Wales
Augusta,
Princess of Wales
 Queen's
Garden
 Kew
Palace
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Kew Palace
Historically significant for its association with
the Royal family, Kew Palace (formerly known as the Dutch House) is the
earliest surviving
building in the Gardens. It was built around 1631 by Samuel Fortrey, a merchant
of Dutch origin, and is noted for its distinctive decorative carved brickwork
and rounded gables.
It was used intermittently as a royal residence between
1728 and 1898. Initially, while her husband George II was extending Richmond
Gardens,
Queen Caroline leased several parcels of land and buildings in the hamlet of
Kew
which included Kew Palace.
George II and Queen Caroline's son, Prince
Frederick, married Princess Augusta and after Frederick's untimely death in 1751,
it was Augusta who effectively established the botanic gardens of today.
From
1760, when he became king, her son, George III lived in various properties around
Kew, principally Richmond Lodge and the White House. After his plans for a
new palace were dashed, he bought Kew Palace in 1781 to accommodate his
new family. It became their family home.
After Queen Charlotte died in 1818, Kew Palace was closed. In December
1896, Queen Victoria agreed to Kew's acquisition of the Palace, providing there
was no alteration to the room in which Queen Charlotte died. In 1898, the palace
passed to the Department of Works and opened to the public. In the 1960s
the Queen's Garden was created in its grounds by Sir George Taylor, then the Director
of Kew. It is of 17th century style and contains only those plants known to have
been grown in the period.
Kew Palace is in the trust of Historic Royal Palaces. The palace has recently
under-gone a highly acclaimed ten year restoration, and is now open to the
public once more. The ground and first floor rooms have been lovingly restored
to their opulent Georgian splendour, while the second floor has remained in
an untouched state for centuries.
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