Original etching. For Braun's and Franz Hogenberg's "Civitates Orbis Terrarum"; after Joris Hoefnagel. Published in Cologne, Germany, 1582
Built near Ewell Henry V111 chose the location for his new palace because it was close to his favourite hunting ground. The village of Cuddington, which was near by was destroyed to make way for the construction. The position was however a bad choice because of the lack of water to service a large Royal Household. The construction commenced in 1538 but Henry died in 1547 before the palace was complete. In 1556 QueenMary Isold it toHenry FitzAlan, 19th Earl of Arundel, who completed it. It returned to the monarchy in the 1590s ,Anne of Denmark, but she rarely visited. Although both James 1st and Charles 1st enjoyed there time there hunting and racing. Following Parliament's victory in theEnglish Civil War, the Nonsuch estate was confiscated and let to a series of Parliamentarian supporters: first toAlgernon Sidney, then to ColonelRobert Lilburne. The estate was then sold toMajor-General John Lambert followed by GeneralThomas Pride, who held it until his death in 1658. Following the restoration n 1670 Charles II gave Nonsuch to his mistress, Barbara Palmer. In 1682, with the king's permission, she had the palace demolished and sold off the building materials in order to settle her gambling debts.
