Archbishop's Palace, Charing facts for kids
The Archbishop's Palace at Charing is a very old and important historical site. It dates back to the 700s, making it one of the first properties owned by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is the leader of the Church of England. The palace you see today was mostly built in the late 1200s. It was later improved and rebuilt, especially by Archbishop John Morton in the late 1400s. He was known for "making great buildings" at Charing.
It's likely there was an even older building here before. Famous archbishops like Archbishop Dunstan (who lived from 959 to 988) and Thomas Becket (who lived from 1162 to 1170) loved to visit this place.
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A Royal Welcome: Who Visited Charing Palace?
The Archbishop's Palace at Charing was one of 17 palaces owned by the Archbishops of Canterbury during the Middle Ages. It was the first stop on their journeys between Canterbury and London. Many important royal guests stayed here.
Famous Kings and Queens
- King Henry VII visited the palace several times.
- Henry VIII also stayed here many times.
Henry VIII's Grand Journey
In 1520, King Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, stayed at the palace. They were on their way to France for a huge event called the Field of the Cloth of Gold. Imagine this: they traveled with a massive group of over 5,000 people! The palace must have been buzzing with activity.
The Palace Through the Ages
The palace changed hands over the centuries.
From Church to Crown
In 1545, after a time known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries (when the King took control of many church properties), the Crown took over the palace. It was then rented out and later owned by local farming families, like the Honywoods and the Whelers. The family who owns the palace today bought it in the 1950s.
Protecting a Historic Site
In 1952, the palace was officially recognized as a "scheduled monument." This means it's a very important historical site that needs special protection. Four of its buildings were also given a "Grade I" listing, which is the highest level of protection for historic buildings.
Today, the Archbishop's Palace is on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register. This means it needs urgent help to be preserved. It's listed as Priority Category A, showing how important it is to save.
Saving the Palace: Modern Efforts
In 2004, the Archbishop's Palace was a finalist in a TV show called Restoration. This show helped bring attention to historic buildings that needed saving.
The Charing Palace Trust
Recently, new efforts have started to save the palace. The Charing Palace Trust was created for this very reason. They are working hard to raise money to buy the Great Hall, the Archbishop's rooms, other related buildings, and the gardens.
Their main goal is to fix up these parts of the palace. They also want to open the site to everyone. They plan to turn it into a community center with new educational programs, public events, and fun activities for people to enjoy.
