Greenwich palace

Greenwich palace began life as Bella Court, built by Humphrey, duke of Gloucester, brother of Henry V. After passing to Margaret of Anjou, the palace came to Henry VII, who built extensively: Henry VIII and his daughters Mary and Elizabeth were born there. James I gave it to his wife Anne of Denmark, who employed Inigo Jones to begin building the Queen's House. It passed next to Henrietta Maria, but during the civil wars fell into decay. Charles II began a major reconstruction, but did not complete it, though the observatory on the hill dates from 1676/7. William III decided in 1694 to employ Wren to build a great new hospital for seamen.