ENGLAND LIBRARY MONKEY SERIES

ENGLAND LIBRARY MONKEY SERIES

The well-kept rock gardens, fountains, sunken rose gardens and moat provide a great escape from the hustle-and-bustle of suburban London.Professor Brownstone, narrator of this marvellous series of mythical tales, is custodian of a vast vault, which brims with weird and wonderous objects belonging to his family. The gardens surrounding the house are just as beautiful as the home and worth exploring. Today, visitors can visit the room and say hello to the pet lemur who now lives in Mah-Jongg’s old abode. He had private passageways to climb between the floors of the buildings. His private room was heated, and watercolor jungles were painted on the walls to make him feel more at home. One of the more obscure aspects of the palace are the secret passageways and room constructed for Mah-Jongg, the Courtlands’ pet lemur. The King Edward IV built, lavish Great Hall of the 1470s is now modernized, with underfloor heating and illuminating electric torches. There are secret passageways from the 1930s connecting the Courtlands’ bedrooms. Curved wooden walls, lush sofas, and staircases that women would have glided down in their ball gowns delight the eye. The elegant Art Deco foyer / lounge is decorated with well-selected furniture. It recently reopened after extensive renovations and is open to the public. Today, Eltham Palace is run by English Heritage. Many famous guests visited the grand home, often to get a look at the Courtlands’ extensive collection of Old Master paintings. The Courtlands created beautiful rock gardens and rose gardens and added modern conveniences to the Palace, including ceiling heating and a loudspeaker system. The exterior was a hybrid contemporary/Renaissance style known as “Wrenaissance,” while the interior was pure Art Deco eccentricity.

The stylish couple brought in architects Seely and Paget to build a modernized home integrated into the historic parts of the palace. Campaigns in the 19th century to save and expand the palace were partially successful, but its saviors would come in 1933, in the form of two new owners, silk industry millionaires Stephen and Virginia Courtland.

In 1651, it was sold to Colonel Nathaniel Rich, who stripped it of many of its valuable materials and treasures. Over the centuries, Eltham fell into disrepair. The legendary Henry VIII, who spent a good portion of his childhood at Eltham, would be the last monarch to have a special relationship with the palace. It became a favorite home of monarchs, including Richard II, Henry IV, and Edward IV. Over the next few centuries, Eltham continued to grow and expand as a royal residence.

Edward eventually gave the property to his notorious wife, (and possible killer) Queen Isabella. Originally known as “The Manor of Eltham,” it was passed through the hands of several bishops and nobles until 1305, when it was given to the future King Edward II. This fantastical estate has roots stretching into the 11th century. Home to both kings and monkeys, this ancient property in London has all the exterior grandeur of a royal palace, but the interiors are an Art Deco dream worthy of a Noel Coward play.

England library monkey