The 'Bring Back KP' barometer was threatening to go off the scale in the first hour but settled for a muted equilibrium by stumps.
A 161-run fifth-wicket partnership between Ben Stokes and Joe Root was the main panacea, which provided parity at tea.
The pair played an array of controlled strokes, particularly through the legside, as they adjusted to the pace of the pitch and the visitors' frenetic start.
As it happened: Re-live day one
Stokes wicket was valuable. The New Zealand-born all-rounder fell eight runs short of a place on the ground's famed dressing room honours board.
Spinner Mark Craig looked a dangerous prospect after four overs. He troubled Root from the start, including a close lbw shout, and generated turn and bounce. With the start of his fifth over, he used the slope towards the Pavilion End and got the ball to slide straight on. Stokes shouldered arms, playing for the spin, and had his castle dented.
The all-rounder demonstrated the capacity to punish, making 25 runs from two consecutive overs to go to 89.
"Lords is renowned for swinging early," Stokes said. "We knew it would be tough early but Lord's does flatten out in the sun.
"I'm disappointed to get out so close to 100 at Lord's but the bigger picture is we're in a good position with the partnership of Rooty and myself, backed by Mo and Jos."
Root (98) benefited from playing late with soft hands, an example for his top order teammates to note. He lost his wicket feathering an edge behind off Henry as he approached a third test century at the ground.
Jos Buttler (67) and Moeen Ali (49 not out) sustained the momentum with a 103-run stand to finish the day. Both reveled in the spring sunshine on a flattening pitch.
Trent Boult celebrates the wicket of England's Jos Buttler during the first day. Photo / AP
Earlier, Matt Henry became New Zealand test cricketer No.266 and proved his worth by removing Alastair Cook and Ian Bell in his opening spell.
Henry had trained in the Indian Premier League under the eye of New Zealand test captain Brendon McCullum at the Chennai Super Kings. He made a smooth transition to the test game with the rhythm mustered taking two for 19 in five overs from the Nursery End. He finished with three for 93 from 24 overs.
Cook, Henry's maiden test wicket, tried hooking a ball towards Edgware Rd on 16. He was constricted down the legside and Watling took the catch. It wasn't an ideal delivery but Cook endeavoured to establish some respite after a demanding opening 10 overs following his side's insertion by McCullum on a Kermit-green wicket.
Matt Henry celebrates the wicket of England's captain Alastair Cook. Photo / AP
Henry's best delivery came with a ball deviating slightly off the wicket to take the top of Ian Bell's off stump. The sea of bacon and egg ties in the pavilion watched wicket-to-wicket as he announced himself as a competitor on cricket's ultimate stage.
"We let them off the hook a bit," Henry said. "They started building some momentum into lunch. We got a little bit two-sides-of-the-wicket.
"Root, took his time and punished the bad balls. One ball an over tended to give them a chance and they took it."
Tim Southee and Trent Boult played important roles establishing early dominance, but struggled to maintain their impact over the day. Each worked with the Lord's slope to earn their respective wickets. Importantly, knowing his three pace bowlers were coming from the IPL, McCullum limited their spells.
England's Jos Buttler dives to make it home. Photo / AP
Southee dismissed debutant Adam Lyth for one with a vintage delivery which drew the opener into a defensive stroke before the ball angled away. Lyth paused to see whether he should query but Cook wisely advised him to keep walking. A Hotspot edge wouldn't have helped the home cause.
Follow Herald cricket reporter Andrew Alderson on Twitter
Southee was in the action again at third slip catching Gary Ballance for one. Boult angled away to the left-hander from the Pavilion End and his bat nibbled.
McCullum's decision to field in the 100th test against England was warranted. It was a fine spring day to start but cloud cover built at times and there was grass on the wicket to generate movement with the Duke ball.
SCOREBOARD
