Henry VIII and Nonsuch

Henry VIII icon

In 1538, Henry VIII purchased a chunk of Cheam, and immediately set to work building the fabled Tudor palace of 'None such', later known as Nonsuch, which he planned to use as a hunting lodge. It was bigger than a football pitch, with octagonal towers and breathtaking stucco panels.

Designed to symbolise the King's power and wealth, it was constructed using only the finest materials. An entire village and church were destroyed to give it the space it merited, on the site that is now called Nonsuch Park. However, as fate would have it, the much-married king died shortly before completion of his architectural masterpiece.

Did you know? 2009 marks the 50th anniversary of the archaelogical dig that unearthed the remains of Nonsuch Palace

Henry VIII

I'm Henry VIII, I am

So what happened to the Palace? It was passed down through the Royal Family and a few generations later, Charles II gave the palace to his mistress, Lady Castlemaine – who promptly gambled her way into such debt that she had it pulled down in 1682-3, and sold off everything she could. It was probably the most spectacular royal palace in England; now nothing remains above ground. If only he'd given her a bunch of flowers instead...

Cheam information:
Cheam Village
History of Cheam
Henry VIII & Nonsuch
Churches & chapels:
St. Dunstan's
Lumley Chapel
St. Alban's
Parks & Gardens:
Cheam Park
Nonsuch Park
Seears Park
Pubs & Clubs:
Cheam Social Club
The Harrow
The Prince of Wales
Ye Olde Red Lion
The Railway
Historic buildings:
5,7 & 9 Malden Road
Bay Cottage
Broadway Cottages
Cheam Cottage
Church Farm House
Nonsuch Cottage
Old Cottage
Park Lane
The Old Farmhouse
The Old Post House
The Old Rectory
Whitehall