Brill Palace facts for kids
Brill Palace was a royal home from the Middle Ages. It was located in the village of Brill in England. This palace was a place where kings and queens of England would stay.
Contents
Brill Palace: A Royal Home
Brill Palace was an important royal residence for many centuries. It was built in a time when England was made up of several smaller kingdoms, known as the Heptarchy. Later, it was used by kings like Edward the Confessor.
Early Royal Visitors
Many English kings visited Brill Palace. King Henry II came to the palace at least twice, in 1160 and 1162. Later, in 1203, King John gave the land around Brill to his chaplain, Walter Borstard. A chaplain was like a priest who served the royal family. Borstard also became the keeper of the palace.
King Henry III stayed at Brill Palace in 1224. He often stopped at Missenden Abbey on his way to Brill. He even gave the monks there gifts of timber to thank them for their kindness. The land then passed to other important people, like Hugh de Neville in 1226 and Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall by 1233.
A Special Chapel
In 1252, King Henry III created a special quiet place for a religious person, called a hermitage. It was dedicated to Saint Werburgh. The religious community from Chetwode was responsible for providing priests. These priests served not only the hermitage but also the chapel inside Brill Palace.
The English Civil War
Brill Palace played a part in the English Civil War. This was a big conflict in England between the King and Parliament. A group of soldiers loyal to the King, called a royal garrison, defended the palace from November 1642 to April 1643. They successfully fought off an attack by soldiers fighting for Parliament. These Parliamentary forces were led by John Hampden.
What's Left Today?
Even in 1885, parts of the palace ruins could still be seen. Today, the site of Brill Palace is protected as a scheduled ancient monument. This means it's an important historical place that is looked after.
