Realm and Castle: Henry VIII as European Builder

There are two viewpoints by which one can try to measure Henry VIII as a builder: within the context of English practice and in comparison with his European counterparts. By either standard he is remarkable, although in degrees which vary. The age was a materialistic one and Henry VIII was one of the greatest acquirers of 'things' (although his cross channel rival, Francis I, easily outstripped him) and what he did not inherit, he built, bought and appropriated. These acquisitions took the form of almost whatever artefact the craftsmen of material culture could provide, from T, musical instruments, to books, to armour, to jewels.

Given the money, getting things is easy and Henry in the last twelve years of his life was flush like no king before him and indeed was much wealthier than he had been in 1509 when he came into the hoard his frugal father had amassed. Three principal sources of income came to his hand: parliamentary taxation and non-repayable loans, the sale of monastic lands and the king's plunder of the church and debasement of the coinage.