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

The site of the Abbot's Lodgings lay to the west of the great cloister and to the north-west of the nave of the Abbey Church. It was converted in 1539 for the King's Lodgings as a part of his new Royal Palace on the former Abbey site.

Monument Types

• LODGINGS (Demolished C19, Medieval to Unknown - 1099 AD?)

Full description

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

The former Abbot's Lodging, built during the late 13th century during the abaccy of Abbot Thomas Fyndon (1283-1309), was a long rectangular shaped complex, about 200 feet in length N-S by about 50 feet in width E-W. It had its principal rooms on the first floor level, and included a great hall (magna aula) at the north end, which later became the King's hall, whilst the Abbot's chapel lay to the south end of the range adjoining the church, this was also retained. The central area contained chambers, etc., and this all stood above an undercroft which had once been the outer parlour for the monk's of the Abbey, and later became the Abbot's Parlour. He had a large household of officials and servants, and would have to entertain a great number of guests, and consequently would be likely to require the whole of this space for his residence.

The site of the Abbot's Lodgings lay to the west of the great cloister and to the north-west of the nave of the Abbey Church. It was converted in 1539 for the King's Lodgings as a part of his new Royal Palace on the former Abbey site. During the 16th century a Royal Palace was built by Henry VIII for the arrival of his fourth wife, the new Queen Anne of Cleves in 1539, and this incorporated some of the old buildings of the Abbot's Lodgings, whilst some were demolished and rebuilt on the south side of the Great Court. This also fitted into a wider scheme of establishing stopping-places for the King on journeys between London and the Cinque Ports.

The Palace was largely converted from the buildings of the Great Court, notably the abbot's lodging, although some demolition and rebuilding was also required. The work was carried out under the direction of James Needham, the Surveyor of the King's Works, and it is from his detailed accounts that the sequence of building is known. The main phase of work seems to have been carried out rather rapidly between the beginning of October and the end of December 1539, with as many as 350 craftsmen being employed on the site. Some of the existing buildings of the abbot's lodging were converted to form accommodation for the King and his chaplain together with a hall for guests. The main new building work was to provide accommodation for Anne of Cleves and involved the demolition of some old lodgings probably on the south side of the Great Court. By the 1770's the old former palace was being used as a brewery, maltings, and a public house. Subsequently all was demolished in the early 19th century, the red Tudor brickwork at the top of the nave wall is all that remains.

The building work was completed for Anne of Cleves, and Henry VIII is known to have stayed at the palace on a number of subsequent occasions. After the reign of Henry VIII, the palace was not much used, and was leased to a succession of noble families.

Boggis, R. J. E. (Rev.), 1901, A History of St. Augustine's Monastery, Canterbury (Monograph). SKE30288.

Colvin, H. M., 1982, History of the King's Works (1485-1660), Part II, (Canterbury, Kent). (Monograph). SKE30322.

Roebuck, J., 2002, St. Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury (Monograph). SKE30293.

Sources and further reading