Eltham Palace, located in South London, was originally a medieval palace but fell into disrepair. In the 1930s, it was rebuilt as an art deco house by businessman Stephan Courtauld. English Heritage restored the property in 1995 and it is now a popular tourist destination with a well-preserved Great Hall, gardens, and a 15th-century drawbridge.
Eltham Palace is a historic structure located in the Greenwich area of South London. This property once housed a large medieval palace, but this original structure has largely fallen into disrepair. Parts of the palace were incorporated into the modern Eltham Palace which was built in the 1930s. Eltham Palace is a popular tourist destination due to its well-preserved art deco design and many consider it to be the finest example of art deco architecture in the UK. The property is listed on the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest and has been managed by English Heritage since 1995.
The original Eltham Palace was built in the 14th century. King Henry VIII of England lived here during his childhood and the house served as a home to English royalty for centuries. Due to its remote location, royalty used this house less frequently over the years and by the early 20th century it had fallen into a state of disrepair. During the 1914s, businessman Stephan Courtauld bought the property and turned it into a family home.
Courtauld had an art deco house built on the land. He also had his builders incorporate Eltham Palace’s original Great Hall into his home. The rest of the house was decorated in a luxurious and opulent style. Courtauld and his wife lived at Eltham Palace until 1944. During the Second World War, the property served as a base for the British Army, where it once again suffered from lack of maintenance and repairs.
In 1995, English Heritage took over the property and restored Eltham Palace to its former glory. After four years, the house opened to the public in 1999. Since that time, it has been a popular location for filmmakers looking to capture the architectural style of the 1930s.
Visitors to the house can tour both the house and the surrounding gardens. In the house, the Great Hall serves as the main attraction, although several other rooms are open for tours. Children are often drawn to the bedroom occupied by the Courtauld family’s pet lemurs. Others like to visit the gold-plated bathroom or the wood-paneled dining room.
A sunken rose garden and wide variety of plant species on the property continue to draw visitors. Eltham Palace is also home to a 15th-century drawbridge, one of the oldest in England. Many of the ruins of the medieval palace can still be seen on the property.
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