The Old Palace, Bishop Kings Palace

THE OLD PALACE, BISHOP KINGS PALACE, 86 AND 87, ST ALDATES STREET

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
I
List Entry Number:
1369422
Date first listed:
12-Jan-1954
List Entry Name:
The Old Palace, Bishop Kings Palace
Statutory Address:
THE OLD PALACE, BISHOP KINGS PALACE, 86 AND 87, ST ALDATES STREET
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Date:
2002-07-03
Reference:
IOE01/06517/15
Rights:
© Ms Ruth Povey. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
I
List Entry Number:
1369422
Date first listed:
12-Jan-1954
Date of most recent amendment:
28-Jun-1972
List Entry Name:
The Old Palace, Bishop Kings Palace
Statutory Address 1:
THE OLD PALACE, BISHOP KINGS PALACE, 86 AND 87, ST ALDATES STREET

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, BISHOP KINGS PALACE, 86 AND 87, ST ALDATES STREET

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

County:
Oxfordshire
District:
Oxford (District Authority)
Parish:
Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:
SP 51399 05861

Details

ST ALDATE'S STREET 1. 1485 (West Side) Nos 86 & 87 (The Old Palace, Bishop King's Palace) (Formerly listed under Rose Place) SP 5105 NW 12/458 12.1.54. I GV 2. RCHM 154. Built in two sections:- (1) the main range built Circa 1622-8 by Thomas Smith and probably incorporating the core of an earlier structure and (2) the West range being an earlier house of C16-C17. 3-storeyed timber-framed except for the East elevation and the 2 lower storeys of the South wall, which are of stone. The roofs are of Welsh slate. The long axis lies East and West at right angles to the street with its North elevation facing on to Rose Place and the South on to Clark's Row. The North elevation shews a main range of 5 gables and to the West of these 2 smaller and lower gables of the C16-C17 building which has an oversailing on the upper floors. On the ground floor is a modern addition towards the East and to the West the 1622 timber-framed front has a doorway with rectangular fanlight, a 3-light window and a side doorway. In the 1st and 2nd floors are 5 bay windows but the 2 1st floor ones were destroyed when the C19 addition was made towards the East. Each oriel window has 4 front mullioned, transomed and moulded wood-framed lights and one on each return; each is supported by 3 brackets carved with grotesques; the centre window in the 1st floor has the date 1628 on a shield above the heads of each of the 3 grotesques. The moulded fascias above the 1st floor windows have carved arches rising from pendants between, and at each end of, each oriel. The face of the 1st and 2nd storeys has a pargetted decoration. The West (or C16-Cl7) range has an overhang at the 2nd floor and 2 gables; in the 1st floor is a plainer 3-light oriel supported by 2 moulded brackets and in the 2nd floor is a similar oriel with a plain 3-light casement window in the West gable. The East elevation has an embattled parapet with a curved gable in the centre. In the 2nd floor are 3 C17 single-light stone mullioned windows. It is probable that this East wall is of a date earlier than the 1628 North front. The present projecting shop on the North East angle seems (from early drawings) to have been here since 1837-9. The South elevation has been somewhat altered and some of the windows have been converted to sashes. The top storey of the East part has some modern additions; the centre part has an attic storey added, while to the West the wing has a single gable. Interior. RCHM p 175 b and Antiq Jnl 27 (1947) p 135. Includes contemporary panelling, plaster ceilings and staircases, For plans, elevations and section see Fig 10 p 134 of Antiq Jnl 27 (1947).

Nos 82 to 92 (consec) form a group.

Listing NGR: SP5140205862

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:
245771
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Inventory of the City of Oxford, (1939), 175
Journal of the Society of Antiquaries of London in Journal of the Society of Antiquaries of London, Vol. 27, (1947), 135

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, Bishop Kings Palace

Map

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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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