Hampton Court Revisited: A Re-evaluation of the Consumer

Abstract

The Hampton Court maze survives as a relic of the Wilderness Gardens created by William III’s royal gardeners in the 1690s. Its status in relation to the Palace is a peripheral one, its current survival based on the assumption that it functions as an idiosyncratic quirk in contrast to the organised sedentary of the main gardens. However, in one important sense the maze, or more exactly the idea of the maze, signifies at a cultural level; and this is manifested through the way in which the deceptions, reversals and trickery of the maze apply to the ways in which knowledge is consumed within the Palace itself.

The Palace

Hampton Court is not for the hurried visitor. A treasure trove of royal history, architectural gems, great paintings and stunning gardens, its delights are best experienced at a leisurely pace, with frequent rests along the way, simply to take stock. Whether a student of history, a lover of beauty or a keen gardener, there is something for everyone, which is why many visitors come back time and again. Hampton Court grows with the knowing. [An official guide book.^l]