Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Roydon Hall

Monument Types

• WALLED GARDEN (Medieval to Modern - 1535 AD to 2050 AD)
• ORCHARD (Post Medieval to Modern - 1540 AD to 2050 AD)
• TERRACED GARDEN (Post Medieval to Modern - 1540 AD to 2050 AD)
• TUNNEL (Post Medieval to Modern - 1540 AD to 2050 AD)
• ROSE GARDEN (Modern - 1991 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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DESCRIPTION
The walled garden to the east of the house is now an overgrown wild meadow with daffodils and fruit trees. Remains of box hedges can be seen and there is a cedar tree and a magnolia. The glasshouses are now gone. The walls are of very fine brickwork (referred to in Newman's ‘Buildings of England', see reference).

An escape route runs below the cellars and two Tudor towers. Some Elizabethan silver was discovered here. A Henry VIII clock is on the second tower. This was restored 100 years ago, but again is in disrepair with the brickwork of the tower crumbling. Bee garths are on the lower wall of the walled garden, but are unused. There are terraces with shrub and herb borders below this wall. Grass terraces lead down to the house, and a walled courtyard is around the 16th-century brick entrance.

Recently (1991) much new planting has taken place. There are two new areas of trees to the north-west and south-west of house, a rose garden directly east of the house, and an orchard, further eastwards. Water for the garden comes from a spring, again in one of the easterly garden compartments.
Principal building:

Manor house Created Before 1535

HISTORY
The site has an Elizabethan manor house which, in 1535, became the home of Thomas Roydon. It was at this time that the name changed from Fortune to Roydon Hall, and the walled gardens, fortified towers and terraces were created.

Originally the pleasure gardens were surrounded on three sides by forest and the famous Roydon oaks were taken by the navy of Elizabeth I. It is near the main road from London (Seven Mile Lane, the B2016).

Site timeline
1535: The manor house , became the home of Thomas Roydon. It was at this time that the name changed from Fortune to Roydon Hall, and the walled gardens, fortified towers and terraces were created.
1991: Rose garden and orchard planted

Features
specimen tree
Magnolia tree in the walled garden.
tunnel
An escape route runs below the cellars and two Tudor towers. Some Elizabethan silver was discovered here.
tower
Feature created: 1485 to 1603
There are two Tudor towers.
specimen tree
Cedar tree in the walled garden.
planting
Feature created: 1535
The walled garden to the east of the house is now an overgrown wild meadow with daffodils and fruit trees. Remains of box hedges can be seen and there is a cedar tree and a magnolia.
(1-2)

<1> Kent County Council, 1996, The historic parks and gardens of Kent (Kent Gardens Compendium) (Unpublished document). SKE12972.

<2> Parks and Gardens Data Services Limited (PGDS), 2005, Parks and Gardens UK (www.parksandgardens.org) (Website). SKE16061.

<3> W. Van Sickle, 2004, Roydon Hall, East Peckham, Kent: documented historical account (Unpublished document). SKE51814.

Sources and further reading