The lost Croydon palace which was once home to one of England's most infamous kings
Henry VIII used to live in Croydon. Yes, you heard us, the famous king who beheaded two of his six wives once called London’s biggest borough home.
Granted he wouldn’t have got on the tram or hopped on a train at East Croydon for Gatwick Airport, but we’re sure this is the most bizarre thing you’ve read for a while. He’s also known severing England’s ties with the Roman Catholic Church and turning us to Protestantism.
But it’s Henry's arguably most famous wife - Katherine of Aragon - who’s responsible for this link. She was a Spanish princess determined to one day be the Queen of England.
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What most people don’t know is that before marrying King Henry VIII, she was actually married to Henry’s older brother Arthur who was heir to the throne. But when Arthur suddenly died from illness in 1502, she went on to marry the new heir, Henry.
Croydon local Gareth Streeter, who until May 2022 served as a councillor for the borough’s Shirley North ward, wrote a book about Arthur. In his book titled ‘Arthur, Prince of Wales: Henry VIII’s lost brother’, Gareth explains the link Katherine had with Croydon.
He said: “When Arthur died in 1502, he left a young widow in the form of the Spanish princess, Katherine of Aragon. After her husband’s demise, Katherine moved from Ludlow on the Welsh border to Croydon Palace, which is today the home of Old Palace School.
“It was probably while Katherine was in Croydon that it was decided she would later marry Arthur’s brother, the future Henry VIII.”
He adds: “Eagle-eyed readers will remember that it was Henry VIII’s later decision to divorce Katherine and marry Anne Boleyn that caused him to break with Rome and declare himself head of the Church of England. So by providing shelter for Katherine and helping keep her in the country, Croydon really can claim a pivotal role in English history.”
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