| Summary : An archbishops palace, associated buildings and precinct, set back from Charing High Street to the north of the parish church. Land on which to build a house or palace in Charing was given to Christchurch priory at Canterbury in AD 788 by Kenulph; the land remained under the control of the priory until 1545. The buildings forming the palace complex surround a quadrangle which is entered from the south through the original gateway. The barn to the east of the courtyard dates from the14th century, and was originally the Great Hall. The farmhouse was begun in the 13th century, but underwent alterations in the 16th and 18th centuries. It was originally part of the north range of the quadrangle, and includes part of the chapel in its north west corner. All that remains of the western side of the courtyard is an outhouse dating from the 14th century. Numbers 1 and 2, Palace Cottages form the south side of the quadrangle, along with the gatehouse. They all date from the 14th century and comprise the gatehouse and porter's lodge, also thought to have been built by John Stratford. Much of the precinct boundary wall is also still standing around the palace enclosure on the north, east and south sides, while on the west the original wall has been rebuilt more recently. The medieval wall stands to a height of between 1.5m and 2m in some places, and was built in flint and mortar. Within the paddocks inside the precinct boundary wall are a number of low earthworks which are associated with the palace buildings. Henry VIII acquired the palace through exchange with Cranmer in 1545. There is no evidence that he made any alterations to the buildings, and no subsequent monarch made any use of the manor house, but let it out to farm. In 1559 Archbishop Parker made an attempt to become the tenant and farmer of the estate, but he was outbid by Sir Richard Sackville, and the estate passed into private ownership. |
More information : (TQ 9544 4942) Palace Farm Archiepiscopal Palace [NR] (remains of) [NAT] (1)
The Manor of Charing is mentioned as early as the C8th but no record remains as to the date of the first building. The hall was probably erected during the primacy of Robert Winchelsea (1294-1313), additions including the gatehouse range (see TQ 94 NE 17) were built in the early C14 and the private work of John Morton (1446-1500) the last Archbishop to be associated with Charing Palace. The palace and manor were conveyed to the Crown in 1545. See plan (AO:61:329:1). (2)
The plan and description of Auth 2 are confirmed, the buildings being in good condition generally and in use as a farm and its outbuildings.
GPs AO/61/185/6: Hall from NW
AO/61/185/7: C15/C16 additions to W of Gt Hall from S
AO/61/185/8: Main gateway in S wall from S.
In addition much of the stone precinct wall is still extant. For details etc see TQ 95 49. Note. The double line survey of the Palace on the 1936 Edn of the 25 inch purporting to portray extant original detail is in error. A comparison with Kipp's plan (Authority 2) shows the extent of this. (3)
Checked and correct - survey of 14.12.1961. (4)
Palace Farmhouse, Market Place, Charing. Grade I. C13 altered C16 and C18. The present farmhouse forms part of the N range of the former manor house of the Archbishops of Canterbury and includes part of the former chapel. The building is L-shaped. Three storeys, ground and 1stfloors stone rubble and flints, 2nd floor red brick, all 3 with long and short ashlar quoins. Hipped tiled roof. One early C16 window of 2 lights, with 4 centred heads and dripstone over. The other windows are C18 sash or casement windows of many panes. To the E is a further recessed wing of 2 storeys and one window wholly faced with brick with one window with 4-centred head. At the SW angle is a portion of ruined wall containing a pointed doorway. Date tablet of 1586 above window by SE angle. (For full description see list). (5)
Barn to SE of Palace Farmhouse (formerly listed as Barn of Palace Farm). Grade I. (See TQ 94 NE 31). (6)
Charing Palace remains of, scheduled. (7)
Additional bibliography. The palace was acquired by Henry VIII from Archbishop Cranmer by exchange, but there are no records of any works on it. (8,9)
Charing Palace and its immediate environs were recorded in detail by the RCHME in November and December 1996: this work included architectural, photographic and archaeological surveys (10-12). |