HAMPTON, an urban district of Middlesex, England, 15 m. S.W. of St. Paul's cathedral, London, on the river Thames, served by the S.R. Pop. (1931) 13,053. Close to the river, a mile below the town, stands Hampton Court palace, one of the finest specimens of Tudor architecture, and formerly a royal residence. It was erected by Cardinal Wolsey, who in 1515 received a lease of the old mansion and grounds for 99 years, and he presented the mansion to Henry VIII. in 1526. It became Henry's favourite residence, and he added to the building the great hall and chapel in the Gothic style. Of the original five quadrangles only two remain, but a third was erected by Sir Christopher Wren for William III. In 1649 the manor was sold to a private owner but immediately after came into the hands of Cromwell; and Hamp ton Court continued to be a royal residence until the time of George II. It was the meeting-place (1604) of the conference held to settle the dispute between the Presbyterians and the state clergy. The state apartments and picture galleries are open to the public. The gardens, laid out in the Dutch style favoured by William III., contain a vine planted in 1768. In the enclosure north of the palace (the Wilderness) is the Maze, a favourite resort. North again lies Bushey park, legally a royal demesne (1.000 acres) .