Sevenoaks Business Directory

The first palace on the site was built in 821 and over the years was home to 56 Archbishops of Canterbury, together with some cardinals and saints – including Thomas Beckett. The Palace as we know it today was built by William Warham in 1514. It pre-dated and was larger than Hampton Court. Visitors included Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon on their way to the Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520, Holbein the Younger and the philosopher Erasmus. It was ‘transferred’ to Henry VIII in 1537 and was owned by the crown until Elizabeth I sold it in 1601.

In the later part of the 17th Century it fell into decay and was used as farm buildings. Now, the site and remaining buildings are in the stewardship of the Archbishop’s Palace Conservation Trust which is restoring and repurposing them as an interpretation centre for the Darent Valley to be used by the local community and visitors to the District. Although (because of the building works) the North-West Tower and the Gatehouse are only open to the public by arrangement, you are free to walk in, and enjoy Palace Field.