Hampton Court Palace Quiz - The Tudor Society

A fun quiz on the history of Hampton Court Palace which still stands on the bank of the Thames today.

Hampton Court Palace

Q1) Who acquired Hampton Court in 1514 and began building the palace complex?

Henry VIII

Thomas More

Thomas Wolsey

Giles Daubeney

Correct! Cardinal Wolsey obtained it on a 99 year lease in 1514 and began transforming it from a private house into a huge palace complex fit for a king.

Wrong! It was Cardinal Wolsey who obtained it on a 99 year lease in 1514 and began transforming it from a private house into a huge palace complex fit for a king.

Q2) In which year did Cardinal Wolsey lose Hampton Court Palace and York Place to Henry VIII?

1528

1529

1530

1527

Correct!

Wrong! It was in 1528.

Q3) How much money, in today's terms, is it said that Henry VIII spent on extending and improving the palace in just 10 years?

1 million

18 million

8 million

10 million

Correct! And William III spent £9.5 million during his reign.

Wrong! It was £18 million.

Q4) Which of Henry VIII's children was born at Hampton Court Palace?

Mary I

Elizabeth I

Edward VI

Henry, Duke of Cornwall

Correct! He was born there on 12th October 1537.

Wrong! It was Edward VI and he was born there on 12th October 1537.

Q5) Who baptised Edward VI at his christening at Hampton Court Palace on 15th October 1537?

William Warham

Rowland Lee

Stephen Gardiner

Thomas Cranmer

Correct!

Wrong! It was Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury

Q6) Who bore the chrisom cloth at Edward VI's christening at Hampton Court Palace?

Edward's half-sister Mary

Edward's half-sister Elizabeth

Thomas Seymour

Thomas Boleyn

Correct!

Wrong! It was his four-year-old half-sister Elizabeth.

Q7) Whose heart is said to be buried in the Chapel Royal of Hampton Court Palace?

Jane Seymour's

Edward VI's

Henry VIII's

Catherine Howard's

Correct!

Wrong! Jane Seymour's is said to have been buried there.

Q8) Whose ghost is said to haunt the "Haunted Gallery"?

Jane Seymour's

Anne Boleyn's

A dog's

Catherine Howard's

Correct! According to legend, when Catherine was charged with adultery in 1541 at the palace, she broke free from the guards and attempted to run into the chapel to find Henry. Unfortunately, Henry would not help his queen and Catherine was beheaded at the Tower of London for adultery and treason. It is said that she floats around the Haunted Gallery with a look of despair and making an awful shrieking sound! However, there is no evidence that Catherine did try to get to Henry.

Wrong! It is that of Catherine Howard. According to legend, when Catherine was charged with adultery in 1541 at the palace, she broke free from the guards and attempted to run into the chapel to find Henry. Unfortunately, Henry would not help his queen and Catherine was beheaded at the Tower of London for adultery and treason. It is said that she floats around the Haunted Gallery with a look of despair and making an awful shrieking sound! However, there is no evidence that Catherine did try to get to Henry.

Q9) Who is said to haunt Clock Court?

Jane Seymour

Sibell Penn, Edward VI's nurse

Wolsey's dog

Anne Boleyn

Correct! She has been seen carrying a lighted taper.

Wrong! Jane Seymour has allegedly been seen there carrying a lighted taper.

Q10) Which of his wives did Henry VIII marry in the Palace's Chapel Royal?

Anne Boleyn

Catherine Parr

Jane Seymour

Anne of Cleves

Correct! He married her there in 1543.

Wrong! He married Catherine Parr there in 1543.

Q11) Whose company of actors performed in the Great Hall for James I in 1603?

Lord Strange's

Lord Howard's

William Shakespeare's

Correct! Shakespeare's company were known as the King's Men.

Wrong! It was William Shakespeare's "The King's Men".

Q12) The Palace's astronomical clock still works today, but when was it installed on the gatehouse to the inner court?

1530

1540

1537

1542

Correct! And it was designed by Nicholas Crazter and made by Nicholas Oursian.

Wrong! It was in 1540. The clock was designed by Nicholas Crazter and made by Nicholas Oursian.

Q13) Who owns Hampton Court Palace today?

The Queen

Historic Royal Palaces

A private consortium

Correct! The Queen owns it "in trust of the crown" but the responsibility for upkeep is handled by Historic Royal Palaces.

Wrong! It belongs to the Queen who owns it "in trust of the crown", but the responsibility for upkeep is handled by Historic Royal Palaces.

Q14) Who was commissioned by William III and Mary II to rebuild Hampton Court?

Inigo Jones

Thomas Cartwright

William Arnold

Christopher Wren

Correct! Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned and he was actually going to demolish the Tudor palace, but both time and money were lacking so focused on rebuilding the king's and queen's main apartments on the site of the old Tudor lodgings.

Wrong! It was Sir Christopher Wren. He was actually going to demolish the Tudor palace, but both time and money were lacking so focused on rebuilding the king's and queen's main apartments on the site of the old Tudor lodgings.

Q15) Archbishop Cranmer gave Henry VIII a letter in the Palace's Chapel Royal in 1540 - who/what was it about?

A plot against the King

Catherine Howard's sexual past

A plot against Cranmer

Catherine Howard's affair with Thomas Culpeper

Correct! It was about Catherine's alleged unchaste behaviour before her marriage.

Wrong! It was about Catherine's alleged unchaste behaviour before her marriage.