Background
- Listing: Grade 1
- Date of building: 12th century
The earliest fragments of the palace - including parts of the Great Library and the private chapel – date back as far as the 12th century. At that time, because of the tithe system whereby 10 per cent of all income went to the church the archbishops were holders of great wealth, second only to the crown. They would travel across the country with large entourages entertaining important people as they went, and the Great Hall of the Archbishops Palace would have been designed to fulfil this function. Evidence suggests that Henry VIII was a frequent visitor.
For the past hundred years the Palace and its various buildings have been used as a farm and have fallen into disrepair, Some elements of the building, however, remain in surprisingly good condition for a structure of such longevity. A planning application has recently been submitted to the local authority for planning consent ahead of a proposed application for funding.