Henry VIII’s opulent wine fountain comes back to life
By ANISunday, May 2, 2010
LONDON - Historians from the charity Historic Royal Palaces have designed a Tudor wine fountain at Hampton Court, drawing the idea from a 16th century painting of Henry VIII’s temporary palace.
The fountain will dispense red and white wine as well as rosi.
The general public will be allowed to drink from the fountain on the payment of a small fee.
During the time of the Tudors, the contents of these wine fountains were available to all without charge.
But Historic Royal Palaces insists: “That wouldn’t be responsible. After all many of our visitors drive here.”
The ‘fountain’ is being installed in the main courtyard, the Base Court, where it is believed a similar alcoholic facility was put up occasionally during Henry VIII’s time.
The new wine fountain at Hampton Court is 4.3 metres high and can hold up to 320 litres.
“We’ve used original Tudor images of wine fountains and Hampton Court’s wealth of surviving architectural detail to recreate something truly unique,” the Independent quoted the Historic Royal Palaces historian in charge of the project, Dr Kent Rawlinson, as saying.
The wine for the facility is being imported from Gascony, the same area from where Henry VIII got his alcohol supplies. (ANI)
