Otford Palace facts for kids

Otford Palace, also known as the Archbishop's Palace, is a historic building in Otford, a village in Kent, England. Otford is located on the River Darent, which flows north from the North Downs. This palace was once a very important home for the Archbishops of Canterbury.

A Palace Through Time

The history of Otford goes back a long way. In 776, a big battle happened here called the Battle of Otford. Offa, who was the King of Mercia, fought against the Kentish Saxons.

From those early times until 1537, Otford Palace was one of many homes owned by the Archbishops of Canterbury. These archbishops were the leaders of the Church of England. Around 1515, Archbishop Warham rebuilt the palace. He wanted it to be as grand as Hampton Court, which belonged to Cardinal Wolsey.

However, in 1537, King Henry VIII made Archbishop Thomas Cranmer give up the palace. This was part of a big change in England's history.

What Remains Today

After King Henry VIII died, Otford Palace slowly fell into ruin. Today, you can still see some parts of this once-grand building. The main parts that are left include the North-West Tower and a section of the Great Gatehouse.

The lower gallery of the palace has been turned into cottages. You can also find other parts of the old palace on private land. A piece of the original boundary wall can be seen on Bubblestone Road. The entire site covers about 4 acres (1.6 hectares) and is protected as an ancient monument. This means it's a very important historical site.

In the village of Otford, there are many other buildings connected to the palace's past. For example, a wall in St Bartholomew's Church dates back to around 1050.

Images for kids

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  Otford Palace from the south-west, showing the remaining gatehouse.