... was at one time the largest palace in Europe, with more than 1,500 rooms. It overtook the Vatican, before itself being overtaken by the expanding Palace of Versailles, which was to reach 2,400 rooms.
The palace was named for the colour of the stone that was used in its construction. It was mostly rebuilt by Henry VIII, who celebrated his second and third marriages (to Anne Boleyn in 1533 and Jane Seymour in 1536) there, and died there in 1547. The palace continued to be expanded, with the addition of the Banqueting House for royal masques and balls during the reign of James I. According to legend, the fire that destroyed the palace in 1698 was caused by the careless actions of a Dutch laundry woman.
© Haydn Thompson 2019