The Rosary (house) facts for kids

The Rosary was a special house built by King Edward II of England. It was located in Southwark, a part of London, on the south side of the River Thames. This house had a moat, which is a deep, wide ditch filled with water, surrounding it like a protective barrier. The Rosary was built to the east of the southern end of London Bridge, right across the river from the famous Tower of London.

Building a Royal Retreat

Back in the 1300s, much of the land on the south bank of the River Thames was wet and marshy. It had many small islands made of sand and gravel. Before The Rosary, another large house called Dunley Place was built nearby. It was owned by the Dunley family and also had a moat.

King Edward II's Vision

Around 1324, King Edward II got some land next to Dunley Place. He rented it from Lady Agnes de Dunley. The King then began building The Rosary. It was planned as a "pleasure-house," which means it was a place for fun and relaxation. Most of it was probably made of wood. However, archaeologists have found some stone walls and supports, showing parts were built with stronger materials. King Edward II visited the building site many times. But it seems the house was not fully finished before he died in 1327.

From Royal House to Fastolf's Estate

By 1440, not much was left of either Dunley Place or The Rosary. At this time, a wealthy man named Sir John Fastolf bought the land. He decided to build a much larger complex there.

Sir John Fastolf's Grand Plan

Sir John Fastolf created a big residential area with a moat around it. His new complex included several important buildings:

• A counting house, which was a place for managing money and business.
• A special room for his round table.
• A brewery (for making drinks) or a granary (for storing grain) with its own wharf (a place for boats to load and unload goods).

All these buildings were surrounded by a large brick wall. There were also two gatehouses and pathways that crossed over the moat.

Changes Over Time

After Sir John Fastolf died in 1459, there was a long legal argument about his land. Eventually, the area was divided up. Later, the land was used for different purposes. It became home to tidal mills (which used the river's tides for power), more wharves, and large warehouses.

What Remains Today?

Today, the area where The Rosary and Sir John Fastolf's estate once stood looks very different. It is now part of two modern developments:

• Hay's Galleria, which used to be a busy wharf called Hay's Wharf.
• The More London site, which is further east towards Tower Bridge. This area was once known as Gun and Shot Wharf.