The town became the site of a royal palace , the Palace of Placentia from the 15th century , and was the birthplace of many in the House of Tudor , including Henry VIII and Elizabeth I . The palace fell into disrepair during the English Civil War and was rebuilt as the Royal Naval Hospital for Sailors by Sir Christopher Wren and his assistant Nicholas Hawksmoor .
It became the site of a royal palace , the Palace of Placentia , from the 15th century .