Cuddesdon Palace facts for kids

Cuddesdon Palace was once a grand home for the Bishop of Oxford, a very important church leader. It was located near the village of Cuddesdon in Oxfordshire, England.

The Story of Cuddesdon Palace

Building the Palace

Cuddesdon Palace was finished in 1634. It was built for John Bancroft, who was the Bishop of Oxford at that time, from 1632 to 1641.

Destroyed by War

In 1644, during the English Civil War, the palace faced a difficult time. Royalist soldiers burned it down. They did this to stop the Parliamentarian forces, who were attacking Oxford, from being able to use the palace.

Rebuilding and New Additions

Years later, in 1676, John Fell became the Bishop of Oxford. He decided to completely rebuild the palace. The rebuilding started in 1679.

Later, in 1846, another Bishop named Samuel Wilberforce added a beautiful chapel to the palace. This chapel was called Saints Peter and Paul. It was designed by Benjamin Ferrey, a famous architect who used the Gothic Revival style.

Later Life of the Palace

Bishops of Oxford continued to live at Cuddesdon Palace for many years. The last bishop to live there was Thomas Banks Strong, who retired in 1937.

During the Second World War, a group called Queen Anne's Bounty used the palace. They had to move out of London because of the war. After the war, from 1946 to 1949, a religious group called The Society of the Salutation of Mary the Virgin lived there.

In the 1960s, the palace became a private home for a few years. Sadly, it burned down before the end of that decade. Luckily, the bishop's chapel survived the fire and is still standing today.

Today, Ripon College Cuddesdon, a college for church students, is located on the grounds where the palace once stood. The land where the palace was is now a private residence. The current Bishop of Oxford lives in North Oxford.