Kew Palace

Yesterday evening I went on a conducted tour of Kew Palace. I have visited before quite a few years ago but this was good as the guide, dressed as a Tudor manservant, was very informative. The brick mansion was built in 1631 by a City of London Merchant - Samuel Fortrey who lived there with his wife Catherine. See extra for their crest still over the door. This is the view from the river as when it was built most people would arrive from the city by boat. The brickwork was of a very high quality with bricks of different shapes and sizes being imported. So it was not built as a Royal Palace and is quite small for a Royal family plus servants. George II took over Kew Palace in 1729 but did not live there. George III lived in Kew in various homes and there were plans for a grand palace but when George III had various bouts of mental illness he lived there with his wife Queen Charlotte until she died in 1818. George lived on the ground floor, his wife and several daughters on the floors above! 
They have furnished the rooms with carpets and curtains which are copies of the originals, plus paint colours on the walls. There are also a lot of paintings from the Royal Collection.

Today I was  back at Kew to meet my cycling group for a picnic lunch. I got there on time and had reserved a table outside the orangery. But…..one of them had a puncture en route  and deviated to twickenham to the bike shop and the plans were changed to go to someone’s garden very near me….so I had to quickly cycle back! ( takes about 35 minutes) Not that amused but I did get some exercise and it was pleasant in the garden by the river.