Editing Savoy Palace (section)

==Savoy Palace==
In the [[Middle Ages]], although there were many noble palaces within the walls of the [[City of London]], the most desirable location for housing the nobility was the [[Strand, London|Strand]], which was the greatest part of the ceremonial route between the City and the [[Palace of Westminster]], where the business of Parliament and the royal court was transacted.  Other advantages of the Strand were that a house could have a water frontage on the [[River Thames|Thames]], the great water highway, and be free of the stink, smoke, and social tumult of the City of London downstream and generally downwind to the east, and its constant threat of fires.

In 1246 [[Henry III of England|King Henry III]] granted the land between the Strand and the Thames, on which the palace was soon built, to an uncle of [[Eleanor of Provence|Queen Eleanor]], [[Peter II, Count of Savoy|Peter, Count of Savoy]], whom he created Feudal Baron of the Honour of Richmond. Peter willed the palace to the monks of [[Great St Bernard Hospice]] a monastery atop the Grand Saint Bernard Pass in Savoy. The monks sold the estate to [[Eleanor of Provence|Queen Eleanor]]. In 1285 she passed the estate to her second son [[Edmund Crouchback, 1st Earl of Lancaster|Edmund, Earl of Lancaster]],<ref>CPR Edward I vol2 1281-1292, 189.</ref> and his descendants, the [[Duke of Lancaster|Dukes of Lancaster]], lived there throughout the next century. 

The following extract from the Calendar of Patent Rolls summarises the estate passing from Peter to Eleanor to Edmund.

“Aug. 17.[1285]

Amesbury.

Inspeximus and confirmation of (1) A charter of Eleanor the king's mother, to Edmund the king's brother, dated at Lutegershal, 24 February, 12 Edward I., granting to the said Edmund the houses, garden, plots and rents lately purchased by her of the provost and chapter of the house of St. Bernard, Mont Joux (Montis Jovis), and which were late of Peter count of Savoy, her unele, without the city of London, in the parish of the Holy Innocents, White Church (de albo monasterio). Witnesses: - Sirs Guy Ferre, Robert Pugeys, William de Bluntesdon, Robert de Mahon, Richard Fukeram, Geoffrey de Langele, knights; William de Perey, Hugh de Penua, clerks, and many others.

(2) A charter of the provost of the house of the poor of the Great St. Bernard, dated at Mont Joux Wednesday after Palm Sunday 1270, granting the above houses or manor to Eleanor the king's mother, for 300 marks.

(3) Letters patent dated Wodestok, 9 July, 52 Henry III., confirming the said grant of the said Peter, count of Savoy.”<ref>ibid</ref>

In the 14th century, when the Strand was paved as far as the Savoy, it was the vast riverside London residence of [[John of Gaunt]], a younger son of King Edward III who had inherited by marriage the title and lands of the Dukes of Lancaster. He was the nation's power broker and in his time was the richest man in the kingdom second to the king. The Savoy was the most magnificent nobleman's house in [[England]]. It was famous for its owner's magnificent collection of tapestries, jewels, and other ornaments. [[Geoffrey Chaucer]] began writing ''[[The Canterbury Tales]]'' while working at the Savoy Palace as a clerk.<ref>[http://www.lyricoperasandiego.org/resource_library/PeopleCarte.htm "Richard D'Oyly Carte"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413125856/http://www.lyricoperasandiego.org/resource_library/PeopleCarte.htm |date=2009-04-13 }}, Lyric Opera San Diego website</ref>

===Destruction===
During the [[Peasants' Revolt]] led by [[Wat Tyler]] in 1381, the rioters, who blamed [[John of Gaunt]] for the introduction of the [[Tax per head|poll tax]] that had precipitated the revolt, systematically demolished the Savoy and everything in it. What could not be smashed or burned was thrown into the river. Jewellery was pulverised with hammers, and it was said{{citation needed|date=May 2022}} that one rioter found by his fellows to have kept a silver goblet for himself was killed for doing so. Despite this, the name Savoy was retained by the site.