Base Cout Tudor Door Opening and Gate Hanging, Hampton Court Palace

Oxford Archaeology was commissioned by Historic Royal Palaces to undertake historic building recording and investigation during works within Base Court at Hampton Court Palace, Surrey. This work consisted of two different projects – the opening up of a blocked Tudor doorway creating a new opening to the shop within the east range of the court and the hanging of new gates within the Anne Boleyn Gatehouse east elevation. Unlike many gateways within the Palace, the gateway on the east elevation of the Anne Boleyn gatehouse does not contain gates. Pictorial evidence could not determine when the wooden gates were removed but three remaining pintles were recorded and 19th century views of the Palace show three pintles on each jamb. The 19th century granite setts at the base of each jamb were lifted in order to ascertain if any archaeology beneath would be affected by the insertion of slots for pivots and ground bolts. The northwest jamb has a flat red brick surface formed of 19th century bricks and thought to be part of the 19th century works to improve drainage within the courtyard.The removal of brick facing covering a known Tudor doorway revealed the stonework for the doorway to be still in situ. A void in the blocking and the presence of timber fragments and iron strapping confirmed that the doorway had been blocked with the possibly Tudor wooden door still in situ. The blocking had initially been carried out using a mix of 16th and late17th/early 18th century bricks. Pictorial evidence tells us the stonework had been left visible. During the 19th century this stonework had the smooth outer face removed and a mix of 16th, 17/18th and 19th century bricks was used to infill this area. It was concluded from the presence of large areas of graffiti and the use of late 17th/early 18th century bricks that the door had remained in use for a considerable period.