5 in 5 - February 2019 - Eltham Palace

Welcome to '5 in 5' where on the 5th of 

each month I post 5 photos that I have 
taken in 5 minutes.

I have felt really lazy since Christmas. The weather here hasn't been too bad for winter, but the cold, dull days make me want to hibernate so I have not been very active with my camera. Luckily I have photos that I took with 5in5 in mind and have not shared, so today I am pulling them out and remembering a nice sunny day and a visit to Eltham Palace. 

The Palace is first reordered in the Domesday Book when Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, half brother to William the Conqueror, was Lord of the Manor in 1086. It passed through generations of Royals including Henry IV who as King, spent 10 of his 13 Christmases in Eltham. It was also the childhood home of Henry VIII and the beautiful Tudor Hall still stands in all its glory. Sadly Henry VIII did not visit much in later years and over the next century it began to decline. Eventually it became used as a farm, but fortunately, in the 19th century there was a campaign to save the great hall. A new residence was built next to the hall, incorporating the farm house, and work continued on the great hall over a long period of time. 

In 1933 millionaires Stephen and Virginia Coultauld (of the carpet and fabric dynasty) took out a 99 year lease from the Crown and established the amazing home that it is today. As a couple who liked entertaining they wanted a modern Art Deco style while retaining as much as possible of the 19th centaury buildings. It is breath taking in detail and now managed by English Heritage. 

The beautiful entrance, reached by a bridge across the moat. 

Through an enormous heavy door....

And into the main sitting room. There are strong design features, including it's circular shape, which is carried throughout.

Including this wonderful glass dome, above the centre of the room, that cascades light down.

More circles as you go up the stairs. There are a pair of stairs symmetrically placed each side of the room.  Notice the incredible marquetry work that continues around the wall.  

On the border of London, Eltham is set high with magnificent views across to the Capital. It didn't disappoint, and I look forward to revisiting again with a friend. 

Thank you for visiting and I hope some of you will join me this month in the 5in5 challenge.  You have until 25th to post your photos and post a link to your blog. Here's how it works: 

1.  Choose a location.

2.  Have your camera ready.

3.  Set a mobile timer for 5 minutes.

4.  Take as many photos you can until the time is up.

5.  Choose 5 photos to download and share by using the link tool 

   

You have until the 25th of the month to add your photos and if you want to know more about 5in5 there are details here.

And one more thing - when you use the link tool, please click on your post title.  This will show the web address. Please right click, copy and paste this as your link.  This will take readers directly to your '5 in 5' blog page and be easier for them to find.