The name not only derives from the fact that this geocache is placed on Richmond Green, but also that it is located just by the once Royal residence, Richmond Palace.
Richmond Green
Richmond Green is a recreation area located near the centre of Richmond, and is owned by the Crown Estate. It has been described as "one of the most beautiful urban greens surviving anywhere in England." On summer weekends and public holidays the Green attracts many residents and visitors. It has a long history of hosting sporting events; from the 16th century onwards tournaments and archery contests have taken place on the Green, while cricket matches have occurred since the mid 18th century, continuing to the present day. Jousting tournaments took place on Richmond Green in the Middle Ages, when English monarchs were living in or visiting what is now called Richmond.
Richmond Green and Little Green are overlooked by a mixture of period townhouses, historic buildings and municipal and commercial establishments including the Richmond Lending Library and Richmond Theatre. For over 400 years, Richmond Green has been edged by houses and commercial premises – built to provide accommodation for people serving or visiting Richmond Palace.
Richmond Palace
Richmond Palace was a royal residence on the River Thames in England which stood in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, which was then located in rural Surrey. It was erected about 1501 by Henry VII of England, who later died there in 1509. At Christmastide 1497 a great fire broke out in the king's private chambers, destroying a large portion of the palace. The Milanese ambassador, Raimondo Soncino, witnessed the blaze, and estimated the damage at 60,000 ducats, in modern money about $10 million or approximately £7 million. The fire lasted three hours and tore through the rest of the palace, causing panic and hundreds to flee. Accounts refer to Henry Tudor, his mother, Margaret Beaufort, and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, running for their lives, with the king barely making it out in time: one of the corridors nearly collapsed on top of him. As it was the time of the Christmas revels, also present during the disaster were all but one of the royal children, and all under the age of 10: Margaret, Mary, and a six-year-old Henry VIII, each of them described as being hurried out in the arms of their nursemaids. Construction on the new palace began in 1498
Henry VIII (who infamously had six wives) stayed at Richmond Palace frequently. According to sources, he wrote the folk song 'Greensleeves' as an effort to court Anne Boleyn (who later became his second wife). You can listen to this here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CIcMQ2S_DM
Both Mary and Elizabeth made more use of Richmond during their reigns. Elizabeth was particularly fond of Richmond as a winter home – perhaps the relative compactness of the Privy Lodgings building made it easier to keep warm. She frequently visited Richmond at Christmas and Shrovetide and enjoyed having plays performed for her in the palace by companies of players from London. – including the one of which William Shakespeare was a member. Elizabeth died at the palace on 24th March 1603. According to the legend the ghost of Queen Elizabeth, dressed in a Farthingale, is supposed to appear outside the Wardrobe at Richmond Palace in the early hours of March 24th. Phantom hoof beats have also been heard.
After Charles I’s execution, Richmond Palace was sold by the Commonwealth Parliament along with most of the royal real estate throughout the country. The purchasers of Richmond divided up the palace buildings.
Today, only a few fragments of the once grand palace survive, including: the Gatehouse, the Trumpeters' House and the Wardrobe.
This geocache has been placed with the kind permission of Richmond Council