Site of Nonsuch Palace in Epsom and Ewell

You're standing in Nonsuch Park, on the spot where one of England's most dazzling palaces once stood. Have a look around: there's nothing left of it. Yet this was Henry VIII's pride and joy. Building began here on 22 April 1538. Back then there was a village on this spot, Cuddington, with its own church. Both were simply knocked down to make room. The name Nonsuch was a boast: there was no such palace anywhere else. Henry wanted to outdo the French king Francis I and his Château de Chambord. He picked this spot because it was close to his hunting grounds. Convenient, except there was no decent water supply nearby.