Fulham Palace

Fulham Palacelies on the north bank of theRiver ThamesinFulham,London, previously in the former English county ofMiddlesex.It is the site of the Manor of Fulham dating back toSaxon timesand in the continuous possession of thebishops of Londonsince the 8th century aslords of the manoruntil the 20th century. The much reduced estate comprises aGrade I listedcomplex with medieval origins and was formerly the principal residence of theBishop of Londonfrom the 11th century until 1973.Though still owned by theChurch of England,the palace, managed by the Fulham Palace Trust (registered charity 1140088), houses a number of restored historic rooms and a museum documenting its long history. The property abutsBishops Park,once part of the estate, and contains a largebotanic garden.The palace garden is ranked Grade II* on theRegister of Historic Parks and Gardens.

Fulham Palace
The Tudor courtyard at Fulham Palace
General information
Type	Bishop's palace
Architectural style	Tudor,Gothic,Georgian
Location	Fulham
Town or city	London,SW6
Country	England
Coordinates	51°28′14″N0°12′58″W
Current tenants	Fulham Palace Trust
Owner	Church of England
Technical details
Structural system	Brick, stone, wattle and daub, timber
Website
fulhampalace.org
Listed Building– Grade I
Designated	7 May 1954 Amended 11 November 1988
Reference no.	1286903
National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens
Designated	1 October 1987
Reference no.	1000133
Scheduled monument
Official name	Fulham Palace moated site
Designated	Legacy
Reference no.	1001964

Fulham Palace in 1902

The palace is open daily and is free to visit.According to figures released by the Fulham Palace Trust, over 390,000 people visited Fulham Palace in 2015/2016.

History

Prehistoric (6000 BC–AD 43)

Evidence of prehistoric activity dating from the lateMesolithicand earlyNeolithicage was uncovered by various archaeological investigations undertaken since the early 1970s, depicting the use of struck flint. The site appears to have been an isolatedeyotwithin the braided river channel of the River Thames. Later prehistoric activity dating to theBronze Age,was revealed in the form of a possible barrow, whilst there is limited evidence for a late Iron Age occupation.

Roman period (AD 43–AD 410)

After a period of abandonment, the site was reoccupied during the lateRoman period.Much of the material retrieved is domestic in origin and appears to suggest a small agricultural community was established on the banks of the Thames. It may have taken the form of a villa on this site or approximate to the neighbouringAll Saints Church.

Saxon period (AD 410–1066)

There is little evidence of Saxon activity on the Fulham Palace site, although some sherds of early Saxon pottery have been recovered. The Manor of Fulham was acquired by BishopWaldherefrom BishopTyrhtelin AD 704. It stretched from modern-dayChiswickin the west toChelseaon the east; and fromHarlesdenin the northwest andKensal Greenin the northeast.

Medieval period (1066–1485)

The earliest evidence of Medieval life at Fulham Palace was a hearth that dates to around 1080, probably belonging to the Saxo-Norman Manor. The first historical reference to a Bishop of London residing at Fulham Palace arose when BishopRobert de Sigellowas held captive at Fulham Palace duringThe Anarchy.The Medieval Palace was established around what is now the palace's eastern courtyard. The first reference to the palace's chapel at this time was from 1231.Plans drawn up byStiff Leadbetterprior to the redevelopment of the site in the late 18th century locate the chapel and its associated buildings beneath much of the 18th-century structure that still stands today. Although various fragments of stonework associated with the chapel have been uncovered, its form remains elusive, only oneParliamentary Survey,undertaken by William Dickes during the Civil War in 1647, described it.

At some point between 1439 and 1440,Henry VIand his entourage visited. Following his departure, it would take four days for the rooms and halls to be cleaned.Shortly after, a shingle board was taken from the Fulham Church to cover and repair the palace hall roof, and palings (fence posts) were mended between the 'house husbandry (farming area), great garden, and vyne garden.' A new bucket was also purchased for the well at the cost of6d.The well is understood to have been built in 1426. Further buildings alluded to include a larder, a hayloft, and a stable.

Tudor period (1485–1603)

Fulham Palace, Georgian wing

Substantial alterations were made to the palace during the late 15th century, a period that witnessed the construction of the current great hall and the Tudor Courtyard, which still stands today. It is assumed that the development would have been undertaken by BishopThomas Kempec.1480and possibly continued by BishopRichard FitzJames(1506-1522), principally because FitzJames' coat of arms appears on the south side of the Tudor court buildings. In addition, analysis of the timbers within the great hall roof suggests that the oak used was felled in the spring of 1493, whilst the gate to the Tudor arched entrance contains timber felled in the spring of 1495.A two-year time frame for such a considerable building project certainly seems appropriate (at least in terms of partial construction). If the timber dates are accurate, then the court and hall were both built by BishopRichard Hill.The Bishop would not have much time to enjoy his new residence, though, as he died in 1496.

Myriad architectural styles over time

Part of current structure, built by BishopRichard FitzJames,dates from the reign ofHenry VII(1485–1509).The buildings underwent numerous modifications and alterations: the west courtyard is from theTudor Period;the east courtyard isGeorgian,the Great Hall islate-medieval;the eastern end of the building was renovated inGothic stylein the late 18th century; the east courtyard wasclassicisedin the early 19th century, and the 'Tait chapel' was constructed in 1867 inGothic Revivalstyle.

World War I

In 1918, part of the grounds of the palace was converted intoallotments,for growing food to help the war effort. The palace itself formed part ofFulham military hospital.After the war, the church found it increasingly difficult to maintain such a large, expensive building. The bishop of London at the time,Arthur Winnington-Ingram,offered to give up the palace and live in two rooms as he had while the palace was being used "for the purpose of the National Mission" (the war effort).However, the bishop was unwilling to let the palace pass into secular hands.

World War II

Parts of the palace were damaged by bombing, and after the war, the church found it increasingly difficult to maintain this large, expensive historic building. In 1954, theChurch Commissioners' architect described the palace as "badly planned and inconvenient".

In 1952 the architectural firm ofSeely & Pagetrestored the chapel Chapel

After many years of indecision the church authorities vacated the palace in 1973.

Fulham Palace today

View of Fulham Palace

After the bishops of London left the Palace in 1973, in 1975, the property was leased for 100 years by Hammersmith Council for the purpose of opening a museum and art gallery. After this, the palace and gardens suffered a period of neglect. In 1990, a trust was established to oversee the property in collaboration with the council.

The grounds of the palace originally covered more than 30 acres (12 ha), though today only 13 acres (5.3 ha) remain. Although the Palace has its own chapel, the garden adjoins the churchyard of the neighbouring parish church,All Saints Church, Fulham,where several former bishops are buried. The allotments planted during the war still survive; many are still in use, allowing local people to grow their own vegetables, fruit and flowers.

Some of the ancient trees in and around Fulham Palace remain to this day, and visitors can still see theknot gardenandwisteriawhich survive in the palace's walled gardens. A large holm oak (Quercus ilex) is believed to be 500 years old and has been designated as one of theGreat Trees of London.

Restoration of the palace and grounds

Glasshouses

The Fulham Palace Restoration Project began in the 2000s and was carried out in three phases. The first phase, completed in 2006, restored the east wing of the palace and part of the west wing including the Tudor courtyard at the cost of £4 million.The second phase focused on the walled garden, the outbuildings, and the moat, and was completed in 2011, costing £7 million.The third phase was completed in 2019 and includes a new museum as well as significant restoration work to the brickwork in the Tudor courtyard and the Tudor great hall.Funding for all three phases came from theNational Lottery Heritage Fundand Fulham Palace Trust.

Fulham Palace is a Grade I-listed building standing within ascheduled ancient monument.A number of structures on the property are Grade II-listed buildings including the chapel, moat bridge and attached piers, stables, walls of the walled garden, vinery, andbothies.

The palace moat

Gatehouses and reinstated moat, Fulham Palace

The palace'smoat,which is ascheduled monument,was nearly 1.4 km (0.87 mi) in length. It was the largest domestic moated site in medieval England, but its origin is unknown.The first known reference to the moat was in a 1392 document that refers tomagna fossa('great ditch'), but it is thought to be much older.Its distance from the palace suggests that it might have had a function other than defence. An alternative idea is that it was built by the Danes as a safeguard against flooding by theThames.

The moat was filled in with debris in the 1920s, at the request of the bishop of the time,Arthur Winnington-Ingram.Despite this, the entire moat still exists, underground, as an unbroken circuit.In 2010, an excavation of the moat began as part of a £8 million renovation of the palace and adjoining Bishops Park.

The palace garden

Map byJohn Rocquepublished in 1746

Walled garden

The garden at Fulham Palace has been one of the most important botanical gardens since the 16th century and is the second oldest in London. BishopEdmund Grindal(c. 1519 – 1583) built a Tudor walled garden and a series ofparterregardens. He is credited with the introduction of thetamarisk treeto England and grew grapes that were sent toElizabeth I.

In the early part of the 17th century, the gardens at Fulham Palace appear to have suffered from some unsympathetic attention. The antiquaryJohn Aubreyrecords among his memoranda, "the Bishop of London did cutte-down a noble Clowd of trees at Fulham", occasioning the sharp remark from SirFrancis Bacon,a dedicated gardener, "that he was a good Expounder of dark places."This changed with BishopHenry Compton(1675–1713) who introduced many new plant species to England in the gardens at Fulham Palace, including the American magnolia,M. virginiana,Liriodendron,Liquidambarand the first Americanazaleagrown in England,Rhododendron viscosum.In his heated "stoves" he grew the firstcoffee treein England. The redhorse chestnut,a hybrid ofAesculus hippocastanumand the AmericanAesculus pavia,was still noted in Fulham Palace gardens as late as 1751. His gardener wasGeorge London

Fulham Palace ancient Oak

By 1681, the gardens at Fulham Palace were already remarkable, asJohn Evelynnoted when he visited them.Bishop Compton's gardener in the early years wasGeorge London,who started a famous nursery atBromptonthe year of Evelyn's visit. By 1686,William Penn's gardener was hoping to exchange the exotic flora ofPennsylvaniafor seedlings and slips of trees and shrubs and seeds from Fulham Palace gardens.Compton's staunch defense of his former pupils, the PrincessesMaryandAnne,led to his appointment as Deputy Superintendent of the Royal Gardens toWilliam IIIand Mary II, and asCommissioner for Trade and Plantations.In the colonies, Compton had a botanical correspondent inJohn Banister,who was sent first to theWest Indiesand then toVirginia,and who, before his untimely death, sent Bishop Compton drawings, seeds, andherbarium specimensfrom which the Bishop's close friendJohn Raycompiled the first published account of North American flora, in hisHistoria Plantarum(1688).

The Tait chapel

Wall painting in the Tait chapel

The Tait chapel at Fulham Palace, the fourth on the site, was designed byWilliam Butterfieldfor BishopArchibald Campbell Taitin 1866–7. It is dedicated to the Blessed Trinity and it cost £1869. Damaged by a bomb in World War II, the chapel was reorganised in the 1950s for BishopWilliam Wand.TheSalviatimosaic reredos was moved to the west end.The east window, destroyed in the war, was replaced by a new window byNinian Comperin 1956. It shows "The Risen Saviour" with the message "Feed my sheep"; BishopsMandell Creightonand Wand stand on either side. The top window commemorates Wand's son who died in a mountaineering accident in 1934. The west window byClayton and Bellsurvived. Butterfield's patterned brickwork was painted over byBrian Thomasand students fromByam Shaw School of Artin 1953. The north wall painting shows: "The Fall" with Adam; the nativity is below; Atonement with the crucifixion, and the Last Supper with the gift of the Holy Spirit. The south wall: St Peter and a vision of unclean beasts, the stoning of St Stephen, the risen Christ with two hands of God the Father, Conversion of St Paul.

Museum and art gallery

Gothic Lodge

Looking out from Tudor courtyard

In 1992, the Museum of Fulham Palace was set up in BishopWilliam Howley's Dining Room and Bishop Porteus's Library (named after BishopBeilby Porteus,1731–1809), in the early 19th century part of the palace. It contained some of the paintings that once hung in the building, stained glass, carved fragments of masonry and a bishop's cope, as well as displays describing the palace's history.

The lost manuscript ofWilliam Bradford'sOf Plymouth Plantation(1620–47), an important founding document of the United States, was discovered in the library in 1855, and first published the next year. No one knows how it made its way there from America, but in 1897, it was given toThomas F. Bayard,U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, and repatriated toNew England.

The palace's art collection includes a number of notable portraits: two 1798 works byBenjamin West,St Margaret of Scotland andThomas a Becket;an oil on canvas of Field MarshalGeorge WadebyAdriaen van Diest;an oil on canvas of Beilby Porteus byJohn Hoppner;and aReginald Henry Lewisoil on canvas ofWilliam Wand.

Visitor access

The house and garden are open daily with free admission. The museum and historic rooms are open from 10.30 - 17.00 (10.30 - 16.00 in the winter). The restored walled garden is open daily from 10.15 - 16.15 (10.15 - 15.45 in the winter). The botanic garden is open daily from dawn to dusk. The café is in what was once Bishop Howley's dining room, and now serves lunches and light refreshments.

The palace can be accessed fromBishops Parkand from Bishops Avenue, a turning off the southern end of Fulham Palace Road, an extension ofFulham High Streetand its junctions with theFulham Roadand theKing's Road,close to the northern end ofPutney Bridge,lying adjacent toAll Saints Church, Fulham.Bus routesserving the area include:: 14, 22, 220, 414, 430 and 74. The nearest Underground station isPutney Bridge.

See also

• All Saints Church, Fulham
• History of London

Bibliography

• Coats, Alice M. (Autumn 1976). "The Hon. and Rev. Henry Compton, Lord Bishop of London".Garden History.4(3):14–20.doi:10.2307/1586520.JSTOR1586520.
• Dick, Oliver Lawson, ed. (1949). "Francis Bacon, Viscount of St. Albans".Aubrey's Brief Lives.
• MacArthur, Rosie, ed. (2013).Oil Paintings in Public Ownership in London, West.Photographs by Andy Johnson & Justin Piperger. Public Catalogue Foundation.ISBN978-1-909475-15-1.

External links

• Official website
• Chandler, Andrew,The Church of England in the Twentieth Century: the Church CommissionersRetrieved January 2012
• Images of England page with listing detailsRetrieved January 2012