Nonsuch Palace is the subject of the next meeting of the Hounslow and District History Society to be held at Montague Hall, Montague Road, Hounslow on Tuesday October 28 at 8pm.

Visitors are welcome to hear the talk by Ian Harte, the curator of Bourne Hall Museum, Ewell.

The Palace no longer exists and there are not many images of it remaining, though the museum at Cheam has a fine picture of it. However, the history is interesting. It was built as a hunting lodge by and for the glorification of Henry VIII, who actually seldom saw it.

Works commenced in 1538 and the Palace was virtually completed by 1545, at a cost of £24,536. It brought the art of the Renaissance to England, being very lavish and elegant with stucco panelling.

It was sold by Mary I in 1556 to the Earl of Arundel who completed the building. Elizabeth I repossessed it in 1592 from a Mr John Lumley who was forced to sell it to settle debts. Barbara Villiers, the former mistress of Charles II, sadly had the Palace demolished, breaking up the park in 1682-83 to settle her gambling debts. Nonsuch Park is open to the public.

Bourne Hall Museum has on display various items from Nonsuch Palace, including stones taken from Merton Abbey which had just been dissolved by Henry VIII. Secretary of the society 020 8890 5078.