 Savoy Palace was the London residence of John of Gaunt , King Richard II 's uncle and the nation 's power <unk> . In the 14th century the Savoy was the most magnificent nobleman 's mansion in England . During the <unk> ' <unk> of <unk> , rebels , led by Wat Tyler , <unk> by opposition to the poll tax promoted by John of Gaunt , systematically demolished the Savoy and everything in it . In <unk> it was rebuilt as the Savoy Hospital for the poor . It gradually fell into <unk> and was divided into multiple <unk> . It was demolished in 1816 – 20 to build the approach road to Waterloo <unk> eventually being demolished in the 19th century . The Savoy Hotel now occupies this site . 
