Exploring Kent's Past

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

Summary

A substantial masonry building complex was revealed during ground levelling just to the south of St Mary's Teynham, associated with early medieval pottery and decorated floor tiles. This may be the site of the Archbishop's Palace of Teynham, although historical records have suggested a site to the north of the Church.

Monument Types

• MANOR HOUSE (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD to 1065 AD)
• MINSTER (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD to 1065 AD)
• MANOR HOUSE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• PALACE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• KEEP (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Full description

If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us.

[Area centred TQ 965 638] On the road from Barrow Green, past Bank's cottages and near Teynham, were seen the remains of a very thick, flint wall, probably part of the wall of an outbuilding connected with an ancient archiepiscopal palace which, it is supposed, stood on the present site of an orchard on the left hand side of the road at the corner where the road leads to Conyer Quay. On the mound grows a fruit tree. Up to 1847 portions of the ruins were used as farm buildings but in that year, we are told, "the remaining vestiges were destroyed". It is quite probable that this bit of the old wall, down in the marshes, although some distance away, was part of the palace, for such a fine piece of work would only be associated wth a place of importance. A plot of ground near the spot where the palace once stood goes by the name of the "Bishop's Garden". Archbishop Walter resided at Teynham Palace and died there in 1205. (1) Archbishop Lanfranc in 1070 improved the building of the Manor House of Teynham to make it fit for his residence. The Manor House stood in the orchard bounded on the east by the road leading from Teynham Courtand on the north by the road to Conyer. The tithe map of 1832 (?) shows the remains of one building near the corner - presumably the gatehouse - and more remains in the centre of the present orchard. The main building is said to have stood where the stump of the walnut tree can be seen in the photograph. At present there is nothing of the Manor House to be seen, except the irregularity of the turf in the orchard. In the Reeve's account for 1376, mention is made of repairs to the Cloisters and of tiling the hall and the Squires Chamber on the east side of the hall. (2) Mr George Sattin of Banks Cottages, indicated, where stood until some years ago, a mound with a walnut tree upon it. He said that this was the site of the Bishop's Palace. This fact was confirmed by the Reverend Doe of Teynham Vicarage. The site is within a pasture field partly covered with fruit trees. The ground is very disturbed, and there are significant patches of nettles around the given siting, at TQ 9661 6396. Two pieces of building stone were seen, foreign to the district. The fragment of flint wall, described by Authority 1, could not be found, nor could the "Bishop's Garden" be located. The name does not appear to be known any more. (3) The tithe map for Teynham, dated 1839 shows two buildings within this field. The entry in the schedule reads - "244. Oast Barn and Yard". It is not possible to tell whether these building represent in whole or part, some of the Palace remains or whether they are later. (4) [TQ 9661 6396] Manor House [NR] (Site of) [NAT] (5) The lost site of the Archbishop of Canterbury's Palace, previously thought by local historians to be further north (see Authorities 1-4), was discovered in December 1982 when ground levelling by farmer, Brian French, uncovered buried foundations to the south of Teynham Church (TQ 9660 6360). Rescue excavations carried out in February 1983 by the Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit revealed four major masonry buildings ranging in date from the 12th to 15th centuries. The foundations were massive, of rammed chalk, mortared flints, or flints and soil. Two of the buildings had been strengthened by the addition of buttresses. One contained an elaborate garderobe system. A substantial ditch beneath one of the buildings contained early pottery. The north wall of one range had been incorporated at a later date into the present churchyard wall. The adjacent parish church was a major element in the palace layout. Finds included decorated floor tiles and domestic pottery. On completion of the excavations the site was re-covered and the farmer agreed to preserve it.

In Easter 2002, Kent Archaeological Field School undertook (as yet unpublished) excavations at the site of the Archbishop's palace. (12)

The brief magazine report detailing these gives a brief summary as follows:
"A large area of the archbishops of Canterbury’s manor house at Teynham was excavated over the
Easter holidays by numerous Field School students. Kentish ragstone walls and foundations
were revealed suggesting that there was a substantial stone structure floored with 13th Century
decorated tiles. The roof was covered in clay peg tiles in two colours, yellow and red,
some of which were glazed. The Field School located the building three years ago with field
walking and geophysical survey." (12)

Swale and Thames Archaeological Survey Company, 1996, Interim Report Teynham District Neolithic, Roman and Medieval Sites (Unpublished document). SWX7156.

Swale and Thames Archaeological Survey Company, 1996, Interim Report Teynham District Neolithic, Roman and Medieval Sites (Unpublished document). SWX7156.

<1> A Saunter through Kent 22 1928 38-39 (C Igglesden) (OS Card Reference). SKE32867.

<2> Teynham Manor and Hundred 1935 4-5 Photo 5 (E Selby) (OS Card Reference). SKE49846.

<3> F1 ASP 10-JUL-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42033.

<4> F2 ASP 11-DEC-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE43098.

<5> OS 6" 1967 (OS Card Reference). SKE48375.

<6> Kent Arch Review 72 Summer 1983 42-44 fig (B Philp) (OS Card Reference). SKE45863.

<7> OS Britain Before the Norman Conquest 1:625 000 1973 (south sheet) (OS Card Reference). SKE48403.

<8> Arch Cant 35 (1921) 156-157 (OS Card Reference). SKE35024.

<9> Domesday Monachorum - VCH Kent III (1932) 255-257 (OS Card Reference). SKE41480.

<10> Field report for monument TQ 96 SE 1 - July, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4881.

<11> Field report for monument TQ 96 SE 1 - December, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4882.

<12> Kent Archaeological Field School, 2002, Practical Archaeology Issue 6. Kent Archaeological Field School Report 2002 (Website). SKE31272.

Sources and further reading