The Architecture

John Webb’s existing ‘King’s House’ of 1664-69 (now part of the King Charles building) became the cornerstone of Sir Christopher Wren’s grand design.

His first plan was for a great three-sided court facing the river, with a grand Chapel as its focal point. However, just before her death Queen Mary forbade it: the ‘vista’ from the Queen’s House to the river (created only by demolition of the old Palace) must be preserved and so this masterpiece of the English Baroque came about almost accidentally, with the Queen’s House as the focal point.

Wren had the foresight to lay out all the foundations early on, so that the basic design would not be compromised. He finally retired in 1716 and was succeeded first by the flamboyant Sir John Vanbrugh, then briefly by Colen Campbell, and he in turn by the more workmanlike Thomas Ripley in late 1729. As Clerk of Works, Nicholas Hawksmoor was always diligent and always overlooked. Building continued in four main phases until 1752:

1696–1710 Whole site was laid out and all foundations dug. King Charles Court remodelled and completed. Queen Anne ‘base’ Court and all ranges of King William Court erected.

1712–1721 North and south pavilions of King Charles Court and north pavilion of Queen Anne Court erected. King William colonnade and steps between King William Court and Queen Mary Court built.

1725–1733 South pavilion of Queen Anne Court erected and the frontage onto Grand Square faced in stone.

1735–1751 Queen Mary Court completed. The temporary chapel within Queen Anne was removed. The Ripley tunnel connecting Queen Mary Court and King William Court was built.

When land was acquired to the west, in the mid-19th century, Philip Hardwick created the landscape plan much as we see it today, with walks and lawns for the Pensioners to enjoy. Railings and new gates were erected all round the site, and the lawns to the west were laid out, with their dolphin fountains. Hardwick also designed the monument to the young French naval officer, Joseph Rene Bellot, who drowned in 1853 while helping search for Sir John Franklin’s lost Arctic expedition. Although this stands on the river walk, outside the grounds, it forms part of Hardwick’s overall landscape design.