Recommended reading

Royal Palaces of Tudor England by Simon Thurley (Yale University Press, 1993) hardback £45 ISBN: 0300054203
The royal palaces of the Tudor period – Greenwich Palace, Hampton Court Palace, the Tower of London, St James' Palace, Nonesuch, Whitehall and Richmond Palace, amongst others – are the subject of this beautifully illustrated exploration of royal architecture and court life in the reign of Henry VIII, reflecting the richness and splendour of the Tudor lifestyle. Every aspect of palace life from the deliberations of the Star Chamber to the problems of providing sanitation for 800 people is covered in detail, as well as the architectural history of not only the most important palaces, but also a selection of 'lesser' houses. Simon Thurley was used as Time Team's principal expert for the Rycote House excavation, also covering the Tudor period, in the 2001 series.

What's Left of Henry VIII? by Deborah Jaffé (Dial House, 1995) paperback £9.99
Combines the story of Henry's life and reign with a discussion of those artefacts and buildings associated with him that still survive, including a number of palaces and country houses.

Brick Building in Britain by R W Brunskill (Orion, 1997) paperback £16.99 ISBN: 0575065354
Tudor remains are often instantly recognisable by the brickwork. The Tudors reintroduced the use of bricks in building in Britain for the first time since the Romans. The manufacture of brick, its use in historic buildings and the changing styles of brick-based construction and decoration are all described in this well-illustrated book.

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