More information : 1. ST. JAMES'S PALACE [G.T.] [TQ 29358004]
2. St James's Palace: The original building was begun during the reign of Henry VIII, and was erected on the site of a former leper hospital - Hospital of St. James.(See TQ 28 SE 54) additions were made to the original building in the reigns of Queen Anne and George I. A fire in the early century destroyed much of the original Tudor building but some parts remain and are as follows. The Gatehouse: Chapel Royal. Presence Chamber; Long Gallery (parts of). I suggest this should be (Remains of) on OS publications. (1-2)
Hall's Chronicle records that in 1531, Henry VIII had "purchased all the medowes about saynt James, and all the whole house of S James, and ther made a fayre mansion and a parke, & bylded many costly and commodious houses for great pleasure" (see NAR no. TQ 27 NE 65 for St James's Park). Previously the hospital and its possessions had belonged to Eton College.
The original palace was a manor house with 4 courtyards and a gatehouse, built on the site of the hospital, and stood isolated among the fields acquired by the King for use as park and hunting grounds. The palace itself was primarily used for state occasions and the housing of relatives, Tudor monarchs themselves residing at Whitehall.
St James's became the chief royal residence in 1702 on the accession of Anne to the throne, and continued as such through the reigns of Georges I and II "despite its lack of magnificence". By the later 18th century its apparent unsuitability as a royal residence was much commented on. Nonetheless it remained the official seat of the monarch until Buckingham House replaced it during the 1830s. St James's survived subsequent plans for demolition, being retained for state purposes and as accommodation for members of the royal family.
The architectural history of the palace is complex, and detailed accounts can be found in the volumes of the History of the King's Works, with summaries in various other sources, eg RCHME. Much rebuilding has occurred, along with repairs, alterations and refurbishments of varying scale. In addition the se portion was destroyed by fire in 1809.
Today, Henry VIII's original palace is mainly represented by the gatehouse, the Chapel Royal and the walling of several adjoining courtyards. The Tudor palace also featured, among other things, a tennis court, the location of which is now unknown. A Catholic Chapel was added in c 1623 (see NAR nos TQ 28 SE 55, TQ 28 SE 56) along with a range of monastic buildings for Portuguese Capuchin friars. The latter (buildings, not friars) were demolished in the early 18th century and replaced by Marlborough House (NAR no TQ 28 SE 57). A ballroom was added by Princess Anne in 1695. (3-11)
The boundary wall to the palace grounds is listed Grade II, as are 7 lamp standards along the north front of the palace. (12)
Please refer to these two sources for a detailed description of St James's Palace and Park. (13-14)
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