John Richard Davis (@profjohnrdavis) profile picture

John Richard Davis

@profjohnrdavis

historian, heritage analyst, specialist in international cultural relations, academic, professor

 Hampton Court Palace
Joined November 2013
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Photo by John Richard Davis (@profjohnrdavis)Photo by John Richard Davis (@profjohnrdavis)Photo by John Richard Davis (@profjohnrdavis)Photo by John Richard Davis (@profjohnrdavis)Photo by John Richard Davis (@profjohnrdavis)Photo by John Richard Davis (@profjohnrdavis)Photo by John Richard Davis (@profjohnrdavis)Photo by John Richard Davis (@profjohnrdavis)
500 years old and still making an entrance 🏰 The Great Gatehouse at Hampton Court Palace was once the grand entrance for Henry VIII. The scaffold build is now underway for essential conservation work. Karey Draper tells us the fascinating history of this incredible structure.
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We are delighted to announce a very special new partnership with Historic Royal Palaces at #Hillsborough Castle, that places societal impact at its heart. The partnership, which spans several areas, including collaborative research, student placements, and joint programming, will build on our existing relationship. A signing ceremony to mark the partnership took place during a special event held at Hillsborough Castle with leading political and business leaders in attendance, including special guest Chancellor Emeritus #SenatorMitchell. “Queen’s University values the importance of partnership work and collaboration to drive positive change. We have enjoyed a strong working relationship with Hillsborough Castle, and we are delighted to formalise our commitment to pursue joint outcomes in areas including collaborative research; cultural promotion and exchange; as well as building deep dialogues that support societal change." (Professor Sir Ian Greer, Queen’s President and Vice-Chancellor) Find out more: ow.ly/AXbI50VBeev #LoveQUB #NorthernIreland #Royal #Palace #GeorgeMitchel
President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's Professor Sir Ian Greer and Chief Executive of Historic Royal Palaces John Barnes are pictured at Hillsborough Castle signing a new strategic partnership harnessing expertise from both Queen's University Belfast and Historic Royal Palaces

ALT President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's Professor Sir Ian Greer and Chief Executive of Historic Royal Palaces John Barnes are pictured at Hillsborough Castle signing a new strategic partnership harnessing expertise from both Queen's University Belfast and Historic Royal Palaces

Pictured left to right is Vice-President for Governance and External Affairs and Registrar Dr Ryan Feeney, Chair of Queen's Senate and Pro-Chancellor Dr Len O'Hagan, Queen's Pro-Chancellor Orla Corr Nixon, Queen's Chancellor Emeritus Senator George Mitchell, Chair of Historic Royal Palaces Sir Nicholas Coleridge, Head of Hillsborough Castle and Gardens Laura McCorry, President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's Professor Sir Ian Greer and Chief Executive of Historic Royal Palaces John Barnes

ALT Pictured left to right is Vice-President for Governance and External Affairs and Registrar Dr Ryan Feeney, Chair of Queen's Senate and Pro-Chancellor Dr Len O'Hagan, Queen's Pro-Chancellor Orla Corr Nixon, Queen's Chancellor Emeritus Senator George Mitchell, Chair of Historic Royal Palaces Sir Nicholas Coleridge, Head of Hillsborough Castle and Gardens Laura McCorry, President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's Professor Sir Ian Greer and Chief Executive of Historic Royal Palaces John Barnes

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John Richard Davis retweeted
Tom Chidwick (@TomChidwick) profile picture
Tom Chidwick@TomChidwick26 Feb 2025
Great to see legendary @QMUL historian James Ellison talking about the 'Special Relationship' on @BBCNEWS this lunchtime ahead of the Prime Minister's trip to Washington. One for @QMHistory and @QMUL_HSS's scrapbooks!
Lucy Hockings and Dr James Ellison on BBC News Now on 26 February 2025.

ALT Lucy Hockings and Dr James Ellison on BBC News Now on 26 February 2025.

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John Richard Davis retweeted
Tracy Borman OBE (@TracyBorman) profile picture
Tracy Borman OBE@TracyBorman8 Jan 2025
It was the end of an era today as we bade a fond farewell to our amazing colleague @Lucy_Worsley in the only way that @HRP_palaces curators know how: with copious amounts of tea and cake 🍰 🫖
Image from Tracy Borman OBE (@TracyBorman)
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🎨 A few touch ups 🎨 Installing a new lift at the Banqueting House has given us the opportunity for painting conservators to work on these 1919 wall paintings. Historic Royal Palaces is grateful to the Garfield Weston Foundation and Wolfson Foundation for their generous support
A painting conservator working on a wall painting of a mask.

ALT A painting conservator working on a wall painting of a mask.

A conservator working up close on a wall painting at the Banqueting House. The wall painting is of grotesque masks and swags in a green beige colour.

ALT A conservator working up close on a wall painting at the Banqueting House. The wall painting is of grotesque masks and swags in a green beige colour.

A group of painting conservators working on wall paintings side by side. The conservators are in high vis jackets and wearing head torches.

ALT A group of painting conservators working on wall paintings side by side. The conservators are in high vis jackets and wearing head torches.

The close up of a hand working on a wall painting of a mask.

ALT The close up of a hand working on a wall painting of a mask.

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Merry Christmas from everyone at Historic Royal Palaces! 🎄
Hampton Court Palace in the snow

ALT Hampton Court Palace in the snow

Hillsborough Castle and Gardens in the snow

ALT Hillsborough Castle and Gardens in the snow

Kew palace with a frosty garden in front

ALT Kew palace with a frosty garden in front

The Tower of London with snow falling

ALT The Tower of London with snow falling

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🎶 All is calm, all is bright 🎶 Enjoy this festive piece played by the Southwark Waits musicians, who will be performing at the Tower of London this Christmas 🎺 brnw.ch/21wPA6g 📆 27-31 December 🎟️ Included in Tower admission 🎭 @historyrioters
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John Richard Davis retweeted
The Tower of London (@TowerOfLondon) profile picture
The Tower of London@TowerOfLondon2 Dec 2024
An exciting graffiti discovery 🤩 This mysterious piece of 16th-century graffiti at the Tower of London has been called indecipherable for over 100 years✍️ Now we can start to read it, Jamie Ingram has discovered a rare female voice! We can’t wait to see how his work progresses.
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John Richard Davis retweeted
Channel 5 (@channel5_tv) profile picture
Channel 5
@channel5_tv2 Dec 2024
A breakthrough in one of the most intriguing, historic who-dunnit cases by @HUD_DVC, discovered buried deep in a Register of Wills held at The National Archives. 📺 Princes in the Tower: A Damning Discovery, Tuesday 9pm @TracyBorman @TowerOfLondon @HRP_palaces
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Autumn has arrived at Home Park 🍂 This park is a protected landscape with ancient trees, rare insects, and lowland acid grassland. In our new blog, Park Ranger Eleanor Evetts tells us more about the conservation work taking place at this time of year 👉 bit.ly/HomeParkBlog
a deer standing in a field

ALT a deer standing in a field

a herd of deer walking across a grass covered field

ALT a herd of deer walking across a grass covered field

a rabbit in a grassy field

ALT a rabbit in a grassy field

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⭐️ Some of the most extraordinary surviving artworks of the Tudor Court🪡 A 20 year conservation project is underway on Henry VIII's 10 'Abraham' tapestries, but why are they so significant? ➡️ bit.ly/3CtgGvH © Royal Collection Enterprises Ltd 2024 | @RCT
Two conservators lying on a metal bridge constructed over a very large tapestry, hanging over the edge to access the centre of the tapestry.

ALT Two conservators lying on a metal bridge constructed over a very large tapestry, hanging over the edge to access the centre of the tapestry.

Two conservators lying on a metal bridge constructed over a very large tapestry, hanging over the edge to access the centre of the tapestry.

ALT Two conservators lying on a metal bridge constructed over a very large tapestry, hanging over the edge to access the centre of the tapestry.

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That's a wrap on the QHCN Symposium 2024! Thank you to everyone who attended, to all our speakers and to our wonderful hosts @HRP_palaces Recordings from the event will go up on queerhcn.org in a few weeks – sign up to the newsletter to get notified! 🌈 #QHCN2024
Side view of Kensington Palace and the green lawn in front of it

ALT Side view of Kensington Palace and the green lawn in front of it

Conference talk with people attentively listening to the speaker and looking at slides on screen

ALT Conference talk with people attentively listening to the speaker and looking at slides on screen

People gathered around a table enjoying a badge-making crafting activity

ALT People gathered around a table enjoying a badge-making crafting activity

Ceramic plates on a museum wall telling the story of Gustavus Guydickens

ALT Ceramic plates on a museum wall telling the story of Gustavus Guydickens

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✨ Dressed to impress ✨ This dazzling 18th century court suit belongs to the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, cared for at Hampton Court Palace 🏰 The suit is made of dyed pink silk and is adorned with embroidered flowers 💐 🎥 HRP PhD Student Jamie Ostmann tells us more...
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John Richard Davis retweeted
Tracy Borman OBE (@TracyBorman) profile picture
Tracy Borman OBE@TracyBorman16 Oct 2024
Thank you so much to the utterly brilliant @lukepepera for coming to talk to the curators team today about his forthcoming book Motherland (released 30 Jan) He kept us all spellbound and I’m even more excited about the book now @HRP_palaces @wnbooks @maddyprice
Image from Tracy Borman OBE (@TracyBorman)
Image from Tracy Borman OBE (@TracyBorman)
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Autumnal colours coming through! 🍂 We love seeing the leaves turn and the October sunshine light up the trees around Lady Alice's Temple 🏛️ Who's planning a walk through our gardens this month? 🙋‍♀️
a path leading up to Lady Alice's Temple with trees around it where the leaves are starting to turn orange

ALT a path leading up to Lady Alice's Temple with trees around it where the leaves are starting to turn orange

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John Richard Davis retweeted
The Tower of London (@TowerOfLondon) profile picture
The Tower of London@TowerOfLondon9 Oct 2024
🌺 Poppy Fields at the Tower 🏰 This November join us at the Tower of London for this poignant and moving sound and light experience ✨ In partnership with @Luxmuralis. 🗓️ 08-16 November 2024 🎟️ brnw.ch/21wNAGS
A yeoman warder in blue and red uniform looking at a light show illuminated on the White Tower

ALT A yeoman warder in blue and red uniform looking at a light show illuminated on the White Tower

A yeoman warder in blue and red uniform looking at a light show illuminated on the White Tower

ALT A yeoman warder in blue and red uniform looking at a light show illuminated on the White Tower

The White Tower illuminated with red poppies

ALT The White Tower illuminated with red poppies

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📜 Sometimes the records we find raise more questions than they can answer 📜 Researcher Dr Misha Ewen tells us about a record of two Black children, John and Mary, who were baptised in a St James' Chapel during Queen Anne's reign. #BlackHistoryMonth
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Throughout history, short trips and long voyages brought people from across Britain and around the world to the royal palaces. Some of their stories we know, many are yet to be told. This month, we will share stories of Black history at our palaces ➡️ brnw.ch/21wNlgW
Black History at the palaces

ALT Black History at the palaces

Black History at the palaces

ALT Black History at the palaces

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John Richard Davis retweeted
Ed Legon (@Ed_Legon) profile picture
Ed Legon@Ed_Legon28 Sep 2024
If you’re thinking about PhD study, please consider doing so with my colleagues in Queen Mary’s Centre on Labour, Sustainability, and Global Production (CLaSP). Full details are below.
Image from Ed Legon (@Ed_Legon)
Image from Ed Legon (@Ed_Legon)
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A first look at Grinling Gibbons’ carvings in the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court Palace ⛪️ Hear some initial thoughts from woodcarving specialists Alan and Tom as they get up close to these beautiful carvings for the first time… 👼
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