and fully-operating lifts and door locks. It boasts an electric vacuum cleaner, an electric iron and a Singer sewing-machine. The exterior of the house, de­corated to resemble Portland stone, has sliding sash windows.

The finest materials were used in the construction of the house and its con­tents. It has marble stairs, floors and bathrooms. ‘Queen Anne’ and ‘Chippen­dale’ furniture, jade ornaments, silk curtains, a silver table service and even the ‘Crown Jewels’ securely stowed in a Strong Room. The traditional Wine Cellar is stocked with famous vintages of champagne, claret and brandy.

The Library contains leather-bound volumes by many famous authors and po­ets, among them Rudyard Kipling, Arthur Conan Doyle and A. E. Housman, and a large collection of prints, water-colours and drawings by well-known artists.

The garage has six vintage motor-cars, including a Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, and all the tools and equipment necessary for their maintenance. There are even two miniature perambulators and a bicycle. The formal garden was de­signed by the great English gardener Gertrude Jekyll.

The house was finally completed in 1924 after three years’ painstaking work, with 1,500 craftsmen, artists and authors contributing to Lutyens’ grand de­sign. It went on display at the British Empire Exhibition in that year, and the following year was brought to Windsor Castle.

4. Study the following texts. Prepare the similar texts about the

sights of the place you live.

Hampton court

Situated in beautiful, tranquil surroundings on the banks of the River Thames, lies the jewel of the country’s unique Royal heritage.

Hampton Court Palace spans over 400 years of history and was home to some of the great Kings and Queens of England, such as King Henry VIII and King William III.

Many great Royal events and dramas took place within these walls, with each successive monarch leaving their own unmistakable influence on the Palace. The Great Hall and the Chapel belong to Henry VIII’s time, whereas the Queen’s Apartments were originally intended for Queen Mary II. As you pass from room to room you will see sumptuous examples of decoration, fur­nishings and Renaissance paintings, which will leave a lasting impression of the manner and style in which the Royals of the time lived.

Hampton Court Palace isn’t just about looking, you can also smell, touch and hear history come to life. In the Tudor Kitchens you will find roaring log fires and boiling cauldrons, as if in preparation for a great banquet.

Costumed guides will take you on tours through Henry VIII’s Apartments and also through the King’s Apartments via the magnificently hand painted