Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The Archbishop's Palace for the Bishop of Rochester at Halling was built in 1077, and rebuilt in 1184. Bishop Hamo De Hethe repaired and enlarged the palace between 1322 and 1337. In 1715 the remains of the palace comprised the chapel, hall and gateway. Little is now thought to remain: parts of the west wall and windows survive as well as walls to east of Church of St. John the Baptist. Much of the palace was reportedly removed during construction of the cement works behind the present church in c.1760. The roof of the chapel of the Bishop's Palace was destroyed around 1780-1790. Part of the hall was converted into a dwelling house and the chapel was used as part of the cement works. The chapel has also now been destroyed - the whole of that particular area is said to have been demolished for ballast.

From 1749, the parishes of Birling and Snodland shared a workhouse with Luddesdowne and Halling (Hitchcock, 1985). It occupied the former Bishop's Palace at the south side of Ferry Road, Halling

Monument Types

• BISHOPS PALACE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1077 AD? to 1790 AD? (at some time))
• CHAPEL (Medieval to Modern - 1077 AD? to 2007 AD (between))
• (Alternate Type) WORKHOUSE (Post Medieval - 1749 AD to 1835 AD)

Full description

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[TQ 70536391] Bishop's Palace [G.T.] (Rems. of) Chapel [G.T.] (Rems. of) (1) The Archbishop's Palace at Halling a short distance from the church and contiguous to the river bank, built in 1077 and rebuilt in 1184. In 1715 the remains of the palace comprised the chapel, hall and gateway. In 1720 the figure of Hamo de Hethe, Bishop of Rochester, was to be "seen in a niche over the exterior of the principal portal". In making the cement works behind the present church nearly every remnant of the palace was removed.(a) (2) Some years ago [before 1780-90] the roof of the chapel of the Bishop's Palace was destroyed, but the walls with windows and doorway were entire. Part of the hall was converted into a dwelling house. There were also some remains of the kitchen and out-offices. These have since been destroyed. (3) Halling. The Bishops of Rochester had a palace here, of which there remains a gatehouse and some walls of the hall and chapel; these are said to be part of the work of Bishop Hamo de Hythe, between 1320 and 1330. (4) Bishop's Palace, situated near northeast corner of Halling churchyard. The ruins were mostly destroyed about 1760. (5) The only remains of the Bishop's Palace (excluding the Chapel) is the W. wall of the hall, situated at TQ.70536391, comprising a piece of walling 11.9m. in length, 0.6m. in width and approx. 5.5m. in height, constructed of flint and rubble faced with Kentish Rag. In it are three blocked lancet windows of 13th c. date with ironstone dressings and trefoil cusps internally. The churchyard wall N. to the N.E. corner of the churchyard is of similar thickness and construction and may also be early work. The remains of the chapel are not so easy to establish but by local tradition the building situated at TQ.70576387 is regarded as such. This building is, now in a very derelict condition, falls within a disused cement works and was evidently used as a paint shop, etc. It is clearly far older than the surrounding buildings, constructed of similar material to the Bishop's Palace and orientated nearly E-W (practically identical to the adjacent church). With the exception of a quoin, much mutilated but probably Early English, all identifiable architectural features have been destroyed: the local incumbent, however, stated that at one time a piscina is reputed to have existed in the S. Wall. (6) The chapel has been destroyed (the whole of that particular area having been demolished for ballast). The walling at TQ 70536391, incorporated into the east wall of Halling churchyard remains in good condition. Attached to and extending E. of the wall is a short length of walling of somewhat similar though thinner construction which forms part of some disused piggeries. It does not appear to be bonded to the main wall and it is therefore unlikely to be contemporary. GP AO/59/191/1 from S.E. Antiquity Model amended. (7) Additional bibliography. (8) Walls to east of Church of St John the Baptist. Grade II. Formerly part of the palace of the Bishops of Rochester. Probably 13th century but Bishop Hamo De Hethe repaired and enlarged the palace between 1322 and 1337. (9) Scheduled listing. (10/17) Later C18-C19 walls to the east of the upstanding wall. (14) Conservation statement. (15)

In 2011 a watching brief was maintained on landscaping of the area. Some elements of medieval fabric were exposed but no significant finds were made. (16)
From 1749, the parishes of Birling and Snodland shared a workhouse with Luddesdowne and Halling (Hitchcock, 1985). It occupied the former Bishop's Palace at the south side of Ferry Road, Halling

Lawson-Price Environmental, 1996, Specification for Archaeological & Historical Landscape Baseline Studies: Holborough (Unpublished document). SKE7127.

Lawson-Price Environmental, 1996, Specification for Archaeological & Historical Landscape Baseline Studies: Holborough (Unpublished document). SKe7127.

Alan Ward, 2008, An Archaeological Drawing Survey of the Bishop's Palace, Halling, Kent (2 vols) (Unpublished document). SKE15796.

Kent Gardens Trust, 2015, The Kent Compendium of Historic Parks and Gardens for Medway: Bishops Palace, Halling (Unpublished document). SKE31401.

<1> O.S. 1/2500 1939 (OS Card Reference). SKE47779.

<2> Beauties of Kent 1827, p.140. (OS Card Reference). SKE37618.

<3> Kentish Pilgrim Lane, 1925 140-2, (W.C. Finch) (OS Card Reference). SKE45971.

<4> Biblio. Topo. Brit. vol.1 (1780-90), No.VI, pt.1, pp.27-8, Illust. (OS Card Reference). SKE37652.

<5> Dom.Archit.England pt.2 1859, p.304. (OS Card Reference). SKE41470.

<6> Rev. O.N.B. 1939 p.18 (Rev. E.E. Crawford) (OS Card Reference). SKE49226.

<8> F2 CFW 19-JUN-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE43260.

<9> Bldgs of Eng West Kent and the Weald 1980 314 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE38064.

<10> DOE (HHR)City of Rochester Upon Medway 1986 19 (OS Card Reference). SKE40671.

<11> DOE (IAM) SAMS 1988 Kent 16 (OS Card Reference). SKE40767.

<12> Field report for monument TQ 76 SW 27 - November, 1951 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4187.

<13> Field report for monument TQ 76 SW 27 - June, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4188.

<14> Wessex Archaeology, 2010, Bishop's Palace Halling, Kent: Archaeological Evaluation Report (Unpublished document). SKE16353.

<15> Keevill Heritage Consultancy, 2010, The Bishop's Palace, Halling, Medway, Kent, NGR TQ 7054 6390: A Conservation Statement for the Valley of Visions Landscape Partnership (Unpublished document). SKE16354.

<16> Wessex Archaeology, 2011, Bishop's Palace Halling, Kent: Archaeological Watching Brief Report (Unpublished document). SKE17358.

<17> English Heritage, Register of Scheduled Monuments (Scheduling record). SKE16191.

Sources and further reading

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