Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II* listed building. Main construction periods 1400 to 1961

Summary from record TQ 76 NW 158 :

House, now Bishop's Palace. C15-C20 building.

Monument Types

• HOUSE (HOUSE, Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• SITE (Medieval to Modern - 1400 AD to 1961 AD)
• BISHOPS PALACE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1540 AD to 2050 AD (pre))
• HOUSE (HOUSE, Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Full description

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The following text is from the original listed building designation:
ROCHESTER MARGARET'S STREET TQ 7468 SW 9/216 No 24: Bishop's Court with Bishop's Court flat and rear flat attached 24.10.50 GV II* House, now Bishop's Palace. Builds of C15, C1600, C1678, early and later C18, 1845 (dated), 1920s and 1961. The house was left to the bishops of Rochester in the late C17, sold by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners in the C19 and re-purchased by them to form the present bishop's residence. Knapped flint with brick dressings to early build, red brick to later additions; Kent tile roofs. 2 storeys with attics, irregular 'Z' plan, mostly double depth pile; single storey with attics to 1920s addition along St Margaret's Street. Garden front (to rear) reveals a substantial 2 and 3 chamber 2 storey house of c.1600 with 2 rectangular 2 storey bays and massive external stack. Circa 1920 ground floor render, 2 canted brick 2 storey bays with oak mullioned and transomed leaded casement windows in C17 style. South gable has stack with 2 set offs bracketted coping and 3 diamond-set flues. Set offs continue as flinted string course across gable and garden front. On garden front at north a 2-bay C18 brick extension possibly concealing earlier build. 2 ground floor 2-leaf 16 pane French doors, 2 first floor 12-pane sashes with glazing bars under cambered soldier arches. Attics have 2 c.1920 gables over bays, one central c.1920 5 light casement, and to left 2 light casement dormers. Gable at north has c.1600 work at ground floor, C18 brick skin, c.1920 brick and flint alterations above. Substantial north return has datestone RW1845 with 5 ground floor c.1920 casements, 4 first and 4 second floor sash windows with glazing bars. 4 prominent stacks. Entrance front has 1961 neo-Georgian single storey entrance wing at centre, 2-storey, 2-bay wing of C18 date to left with hipped roof. To right, early C18 wing with complex roof pattern of 4 different pitches, incorporating inside a staircase (see below) said to be of 1678. This is brought forward to line of road with 3 storey, 3 bay facade, parapet roof. 2 ground, 3 first floor 12 pane and 2 second floor 9 pane sashes, at first floor under c.1700 segmental and at second floor under flat rubbed brick arches. Single storey wing with attics attached along street at north, c.1920. 4 ground floor and 5 dormer casements. Carriage arch. 2-storey elevation to service court at rear. Interior: Earlier build is c.1500 quadripartite vaulted undercroft, arranged as chapel with imported C16-17 mannerist woodwork, panelling and stalls. One ground floor room at south against gable has late C17 raised and fielded wooden panelling, bolection mouldings to panels, 4 beams, box cornices. Impressive staricase said to be 1678: to first floor ony, and clearly additional to the putative original c.1600 3 cell build. Turned balusters, stout rails dentil cornice, treads with florettes to undersides. Heraldic beasts of mid 'C19 origin to newel heads. Staircase continued to second floor with C19 work imitating c.1678. First floor panelled chamber against south gable with stile and muntin panelling, ovolo moulded stopped and chamfered spine girder beam. 4-centre arched stone fireplace of c.1500. Renaisance/Mannerist wooden carved overmantle.
Listing NGR: TQ7411068302

Description from record TQ 76 NW 158 :
[TQ 74136833] Bishopscourt [NAT] (1) ROCHESTER MARGARET'S STREET No.24: Bishop's Court with Bishop's Court flat and rear flat attached. House, now Bishop's Palace. Builds of C15, c.1600, c.1678, early and later C18, 1845 (dated), 1920s and 1961. [Full architectural reference] LISTED GRADE II*. (2)

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

<1> OS 1:2500 1970 (OS Card Reference). SKE48212.

<2> DOE(HHR)City of Rochester upon Medway Kent, 2nd Dec 1991 124-125 (OS Card Reference). SKE41265.

Sources and further reading