The Old Palace

THE OLD PALACE, BULL LANE

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1236308
Date first listed:
01-Aug-1952
List Entry Name:
The Old Palace
Statutory Address:
THE OLD PALACE, BULL LANE

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Location

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Archive image, may not represent current condition of site.
Date:
2001-09-20
Reference:
IOE01/05601/03
Rights:
© Mr Robert Smedley. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1236308
Date first listed:
01-Aug-1952
Date of most recent amendment:
30-May-1984
List Entry Name:
The Old Palace
Statutory Address 1:
THE OLD PALACE, BULL LANE

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
THE OLD PALACE, BULL LANE

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:
Kent
District:
Tonbridge and Malling (District Authority)
Parish:
Wrotham
National Grid Reference:
TQ 61283 59159

Details

TQ6059-6159 WROTHAM C.P. BULL LANE 7/34 1.8.52 The Old Palace (formerly Listed as Remains of Archbishop's Palace)

II*

House, possibly the former kitchen wing if the long-demolished Archbishop's Palace. C16, incorporating parts of pre-1340 date. Coursed ragstone on wide ragstone plinth. Some windows with early C16 red brick dressings, some replaced by stone dressings. Plain tiled roof with return gable off-centre to left. End stack at right, off-ridge stack behind gable with coupled octagonal stacks, probably C16, and slope stack at left end. 2 storeys and attics; irregular fenestration. 1 window on each floor under gable, 2 windows on both floors to left, I window on both floors at extreme right-hand end. Square-headed doorway, with doubled glazed doors, on ground-floor to right of gable. At right-hand end is a 2-storey ruin with 1 blocked window on each floor facing south, the whole obviously originally taller. Blocked window of early C13 character behind. The palace was used by the Archbishops of Canterbury as a resting-place on the way to London, but it was demolished and used as a granary in the building of Maidstone palace. Ruins restored as a manor house by the Byng family during the C16. See J Newman, The Buildings of England: West Kent and the Weald, 1969, p.592.

Listing NGR: TQ6128259156

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
427266
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Newman, J, The Buildings of England: West Kent and the Weald, (1969), 592

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of The Old Palace

Map

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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