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Monument details

HER Number:TR 15 NE 978
Type of record:Listed Building
Name:THE ARCHBISHOP'S PALACE OR THE OLD PALACE, Canterbury

Summary

Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1500 to 1896. Archbishop's Palace. The Great Hall and other fragmentary remains of the Archbishops Palace rebuilt between 1193 and 1228 on the site of the original palace probably initiated by Lanfranc in the 11th century. Most of the major buildings of the Palace were demolished in the 1650's. The Palace was rebuilt again to designs by W D Caroe in 1896, retaining some of the original features. Excavations have located the Great Hall which was constructed late 12th early 13th century.


Grid Reference:TR 1501 5797
Map Sheet:TR15NE
Parish:CANTERBURY, CANTERBURY, KENT

Monument Types

  • ARCHBISHOPS PALACE (Medieval to Modern - 1070 AD to 2050 AD)
  • GREAT HALL (PALACE, Medieval - 1193 AD to 1228 AD)
Protected Status:Listed Building (I) 1085066: THE ARCHBISHOP'S PALACE OR THE OLD PALACE

Full description

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Description from record TR 15 NE 194 :
(TR 15015797) Remains of Palace [NR]. (1)

The Archbishop's Palace or the Old Palace, Grade II. Rebuilt in 1896 by WD Carol, but the south wing contains some traces of old work in the buttresses and a 14th century window. The 16th century gateway in the Borough remains, though blocked. The building incorporates the west end of the undercroft of the monastic refectory. (2)

Between September and early November 1982 a large trench (3mx22m) was excavated on the site of the early 13th century Great Hall at the medieval Archbishop's Palace. The Great Hall of the Archbishop's Palace, the second largest medieval Great Hall in Britain after Westminster, was constructed c1200-1220 by Archbishops Hubert Walter and Stephen Langton and was demolished in the 1650's. (3)

All the surviving remains of the 13th century Great Hall of the Archbishop's Palace, where restoration work is taking place, have been recorded. (4)

It was almost certainly built by Archbishop Simon Langton, who died in 1228. A survey is also being made of other surviving pre-1650 remains of the Archbishop's Palace. (5)

The Great Hall has been shown to be larger than originally thought and remains of the Archbishop's detatched Great Kitchen have been located. (6)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 944 THE CATHEDRAL PRECINCTS
The Archbishop's Palace or the old Palace TR 1557 NW 5/2 TR 1457 NE 4/2 3.5.67.
II
2. Rebuilt in 1896 by W D Caroe, but the south wing contains some traces of old work in the buttresses and a C14 2 light trefoil-headed window. The C16 gateway in the Borough also remains, though it is now blocked. The building is curved. 2 to 3 storeys flint and ashlar. Tiled roof with 3 dormers on right elevation and 3 mullioned and transomed windows with hood moulding. Buttresses. The left side elevation has 3 gables with finials and 3 mullioned windows. The central entrance porch has an archiepiscopal cartouche and 2 twisted columns. It incorporates the West end of the undercroft of the monastic refectory.
Listing NGR: TR1498757995 (7)


<1> OS 1/500 1874 (OS Card Reference). SKE48131.

<2> DOE (HHR) City of Canterbury Kent Sept 1973 63-4 (OS Card Reference). SKE40124.

<3> Arch Cant 98 1982 230-33 plan (J Rady) (OS Card Reference). SKE36314.

<4> CAT Ann Rep 3 1978-79 20 (T Tatton-Brown) (OS Card Reference). SKE38668.

<5> CAT Ann Rep 4 1979-80 33 (T Tatton-Brown) (OS Card Reference). SKE38671.

<6> CAT Ann Rep 5 1980-81 15-16 (T Tatton-Brown) (OS Card Reference). SKE38674.

<7> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>OS Card Reference: OS 1/500 1874.
<2>OS Card Reference: DOE (HHR) City of Canterbury Kent Sept 1973 63-4.
<3>OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 98 1982 230-33 plan (J Rady).
<4>OS Card Reference: CAT Ann Rep 3 1978-79 20 (T Tatton-Brown).
<5>OS Card Reference: CAT Ann Rep 4 1979-80 33 (T Tatton-Brown).
<6>OS Card Reference: CAT Ann Rep 5 1980-81 15-16 (T Tatton-Brown).
<7>XYMap: English Heritage. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. [Mapped feature: #23157 Listed building, ]

Related records

TR 15 NE 402Parent of: Courtyard surface, (Archbishops Palace), Kings School Canterbury (Monument)
TR 15 NE 125Part of: Canterbury Christ Church Cathedral (Listed Building)
TR 15 NE 1075Part of: Christchurch Priory and Archbishop's Palace complex (Monument)