Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The Dungeons at the Archbishop's Palace, a Grade II listed building, is a 14th century medieval stone outbuilding adjoining the Palace to the south-east, with an early Norman undercroft adjoining it. In 1989 trial excavations in the garden to the east of the Old Palace and north of the "Dungeon" exposed previously unknown foundations and walls and an assortment of finds.

Summary from record TQ 75 NE 796:

Grade II* listed building. Main construction periods 1066 to 1399

Monument Types

• UNDERCROFT (Medieval to Modern - 1066 AD to 2050 AD)
• PRISON (PRISON, Medieval to Modern - 1300 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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[TQ 7595 5541] The Dungeon (NR) (1)

The Dungeons, to the south-east of the Palace at Maidstone, [see TQ 75 NE 35] is 14th c. with an early Norman undercroft adjoining it. (2)

Correct description. Known as "The Dungeon" (Caretaker). Property of Maidstone Corporation, and used as a storehouse. GP/AO/64/119/2. (3)

The Dungeons at the Archbishop's Palace, Grade II. A mediaeval stone outbuilding adjoining the Palace to the south-east and called the Dungeons. 14 c. with an early Norman undercroft adjoining it. (4)

Additional bibliography. (5,7,8)

Two holes dug in the floor of the Dungeon, through leaf mould located the buildings foundations and the sill of a blocked door. (9)

Description from record TQ 75 NE 796:
The following text is from the original listed building designation:
TQ 7555 SE 6/68A

MILL STREET (West Side) The Dungeons at the Archbishop's Palace

30.7.51. GV

II* A medieval stone outbuilding adjoining the Palace to the south-east and called the Dungeons. C14 with an early Norman undercroft adjoining it. Small square windows of three lights with stone mullions.

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: TQ7595155413.(10)

<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 05.03.64 (OS Card Reference). SKE41928.

<4> DOE (HHR) Dist of Maidstone Area Kent 2.8.74 74 (OS Card Reference). SKE40285.

<5> Bldgs of Eng-West Kent & the Weald 1980 406 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE38157.

<6> Field report for monument TQ 75 NE 45 - March, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3816.

<7> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 1997, Maidstone: The Archiepiscopal Precinct (Heritage aspects of proposed works) (Unpublished document). SKE7372.

<8> Livett, G. M. Rev., 1899, Early-Norman Masonry At Maidstone (Article in serial). SKE11888.

<9> Maidstone Area Archaeological Group, 1989, Excavations at The Old Palace, Maidstone, 1989 (Unpublished document). SKE11887.

<10> Historic England, National Heritage List for England (Index). SKE29372.

Sources and further reading