Sonning Bishop's Palace facts for kids

Sonning Bishop's Palace was once a grand home for important religious leaders in England. It was located in a village called Sonning, which is east of Reading in Berkshire. This palace was a special residence for the Bishops of Salisbury, who were high-ranking church officials.

The palace was built in Holme Park, very close to the River Thames. Imagine a large, important house right by the river!

A Palace with History

This palace saw many important moments in history.

Early Years and Royal Guests

• In 1135, a bishop named Roger of Salisbury was staying at the palace. He went from there to attend the funeral of King Henry I at Reading Abbey.
• Later, in September 1216, King John visited the palace. He stayed there for six days! It must have been a very important place for a king to spend so much time.
• In 1337, Bishop Robert Wyville of Salisbury added extra defences to the palace. This suggests it was a valuable property that needed protection.

A Queen's Imprisonment

• After King Richard II died in 1400, his wife, Isabella of Valois, was kept prisoner at the palace. She was a young queen, and being held there must have been a difficult time for her.

Royal Visits and Decline

The Bishops of Salisbury continued to live at the palace, though some used it more often than others. Eventually, they sold it to Queen Elizabeth I.

• Queen Elizabeth I visited the palace twice herself.
• However, after her visits, the palace started to fall apart. It was no longer maintained and became old and damaged.

What We Know Now

Today, you can't see the palace standing above the ground. But we know a lot about it thanks to special investigations.

Digging Up the Past

• Between 1912 and 1914, archaeologists dug up the site. They found exciting clues about what the palace looked like.
• They discovered evidence of a large hall, a chapel (a small church), and other rooms.
• These findings showed that the main parts of the palace were built in the 1200s. It was then changed and updated in the 1300s and 1400s.
• The buildings were protected by a moat on three sides. A moat is a deep, wide ditch, often filled with water, that surrounds a castle or palace for defence.

What's Left Today

• If you visit the site today, you won't see any grand buildings.
• All that's left are some bumps and uneven parts in the grass.
• The area is now a field where cows graze. It's located between St Andrew's Church and Sonning Lock on the river.