Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Archbishops Palace built between 1348 and 1366 and enlarged in 1486 and second half of the 16th century. In 1989, part of a dam wall with adjacent ragstone cobbled path, and wall footing (all 14th century) and an undated door sill were found; also footings identified as the south wall of a Norman building, and further features by the dungeon entrance. In 1990, the foundations of a Norman wall, layers of made ground (including forge waste and Romano British pottery) were revealed, and, against the north wall of All Saints Church, a ragstone wall and paving .

Summary from record TQ 75 NE 476:

Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1348 to 1974

Monument Types

• PAVEMENT (Unknown date)
• WALL (Unknown date)
• (Former Type) WALL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD?)
• (Former Type) WALL (Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1395 AD?)
• (Former Type) DAM (Medieval - 1300 AD? to 1300 AD (at some time))
• (Former Type) PATH (Medieval - 1300 AD? to 1300 AD (at some time))
• (Former Type) WALL (Medieval - 1300 AD? to 1300 AD (at some time))
• BISHOPS PALACE (BISHOPS PALACE, Medieval - 1348 AD? to 1539 AD) + Sci.Date
• BISHOPS PALACE (Medieval to Modern - 1348 AD to 2050 AD)

Associated Finds

• OYSTER SHELL (Undated)
• SLAG (Undated)
• POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Full description

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[TQ 75935544] The Palace (NR) (1) The Archbishop's Palace, Maidstone, was built between 1348 and 1366 and enlarged in 1486 and second half of the 16th c. (2) Description correct. In good condition, and in use for social purposes. Property of the Maidstone Corporation. GP/AO/64/110/7. The Archbishop's Palace, Grade I. Begun by Archbishop Ufford in 1348. Completed by Archbishop Islip between 1349 and 1366. Enlarged by Archbishop Morton in 1486. (4) Additional bibliography. (5-13) Part of dam wall with adjacent ragstone cobbled path (C14), wall footing (C14) and undated door sill found in test pits while other footings identified as the south wall of the Norman building, another undated wall and an unidentified C19 brick structure by the dungeon entrance were trenched in 1989. A watching brief during the construction of a sewer trench in 1990 revealled the foundations of a Norman wall, layers of made ground (inc forge waste and RB pottery) and, against the N wall of All Saints Church, a ragstone wall and paving overlain by oyster shell refuse. (14)

Additional Info. (15)


The following text is from the original listed building designation:
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 17/02/2017

TQ 7555 SE 6/68

MILL STREET (West Side) The Archbishop's Palace

30.7.51.

GV

I Begun by Archbishop Ufford in 1348. Completed by Archbishop Islip between 1349 and 1366. Enlarged by Archbishop Morton in 1486. Exchanged by Archbishop Crarmer with Henry VIII for other property. By Henry VIII it was granted to Sir Thomas Wyatt. On his son's rebellion it was forfeited to the Crown and subsequently granted to Sir John Astley, who built the greater part of the existing house in the second half of the C16.

The main portion of the building is of ashlar with timber-framed wings at the north and south ends. The main section is E-shaped. Two storeys and attics. Five windows and two dormers to the north-west front. Stringcourse. Parapet. Windows with stone mullions and transoms. Two large dormers above the outer-projecting east wings with kneelers, coping and finials over the apices and kneelers. Tiled roof. The centre projection is the porch with round-headed arch and room over.

At the south end of the building is a timber-framed wing nearby flush with the southern projection of the main front. This has one large and one small gable with pendants. Casement windows. At the north end of the building is a wing with stone ground floor and timber-framed upper storey with diagonal braces and plaster infill, surmounted by a gable with pendant. On the ground floor there is one obtusely pointed window and one square headed window containing two cinquefoil-headed lights. One sash window above them with glazing bars intact. To the north of this again is a further recessed wing wholly faced with stone but with a portion projecting on the first floor apparently timber framed but this is modern or a reconstruction.

The south-west front of the Palace facing the Medway has a fine stone corbelled oriel window with three tiers of six lights, stone mullions and transoms and chamfered stone corbelling beneath. Also there are some double or triple lancets with hood moulding. The interior contains C16 panelling and some fine C16 wood or stone fireplaces.

Gateway and Wall to Palace Gardens, Wall to north-west of Archbishop's Palace, The Archbishop's Palace, Wall to east of Archbishop's Palace, The Dungeons at the Archbishop's Palace, The Gate House at the Archbishop's Palace, The Len Bridge, The Tithe Barn, Parish Church of All Saints, Wall to north and west of All Saints Church, The College Gateway, The College Tower, The Masters House, The Master's Tower, Cutbush Almshouses and the Ruined Gateway form a group.

Listing NGR: TQ7592155442 (18-19)

Excavation plan and reconstruction drawing by KARU. (16)

Dendrochronology from the solar (considered to be the earliest part of the complex) gave a felling date range of 1315-1344. Dendrochronology dating of the Parlour gave a date range of 1393-1443. The roof of the south-west wing gave a date range of 1476-1511. The 'Northern Rooms' gave a date of 1524/5. Timbers from the landing gave a date range of 1520-1555. (17)

Archive material (20)

<1> OS 1:1250 1958 (OS Card Reference). SKE48176.

<2> MHLG 1368/11/A Maidstone MB Nov 1949 29 (OS Card Reference). SKE47074.

<3> F1 ASP 25.02.64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42271.

<4> DOE (HHR) Dist of Maidstone Area Kent 2.8.74 73 (OS Card Reference). SKE40284.

<5> Bldgs of Eng-West Kent and the Weald 1980 405-406 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE38171.

<6> Arch J 81 1924 377 (OS Card Reference). SKE36687.

<7> Arch J 62 1905 185 (OS Card Reference). SKE36664.

<8> Arch Cant 72 1958 2 (R H Goodsall) (OS Card Reference). SKE35506.

<9> Arch J 126 1969 253 (S E Rigold) (OS Card Reference). SKE36557.

<10> JBAA 10 1855 34 (J Whichcord) (OS Card Reference). SKE44860.

<11> Field report for monument TQ 75 NE 34 - February, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3805.

<12> Excavations at Old Palace, Maidstone: Interim Report 1990 (Maidstone Area Arch Group) (OS Card Reference). SKE41689.

<13> Excavations at Old Palace, Maidstone Interim Report 2 1991-2 (Maidstone Area Arch Group) (OS Card Reference). SKE41688.

<14> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, Maidstone Area Arch Group 1989 Excavations at the Archbishops Palace, Maidstone (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<15> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 1997, Maidstone: The Archiepiscopal Precinct (Heritage aspects of proposed works) (Unpublished document). SKE7372.

<16> Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit, Excavation plan and reconstrucion drawing of the Archbishop's Palace, Maidstone (Graphic material). SKE16377.

<17> Vernacular Architecture Group, ADS Dendrochronology Database, Vol. 20, Pg. 42 (Website). SKE17391.

<18> Historic England, National Heritage List for England (Index). SKE29372.

<19> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<20> Historic England, Archive material associated with Archbishop's Palace, Maidstone, Listed Building (Archive). SKE53955.

Sources and further reading