Lyminge manor of Archbishop of Canterbury

Has been described as a Possible Palace (Bishop)

There are no visible remains

NameLyminge manor of Archbishop of Canterbury
Alternative Names
Historic CountryKent
Modern AuthorityKent
1974 AuthorityKent
Civil ParishLyminge

The foundations of the manor house of the Archbishops of Canterbury at Lyminge are marked by mounds in the Court Lodge Green. The house was built by Lanfranc and became ruinous after 1382 (Jenkins).

No trace of building was found in Court Lodge Green, a pasture field containing many pits, (probably small, disused quarries), terrace-like features, and one rectangular platform, probably the site of a small building (F1 ASP 01-May-1963).

The foundations of the building are marked by the vast mounds and terraces which fill Court Lodge Green, the original site of the manor house. Periodically, parts of these have been uncovered, including the foundations of and oblong room with an inner chamber beyond, bearing some resemblance to the ground plan of a small chapel. The ancient residence of the Archbishops of Canterbury at Lyminge. It is the earliest place mentioned in the Register of Archbishop Peckham, the first known, and was visited by him in 1279. In 1382 Archbishop Courtney granted a commission to sell the houses and stones of certain of his manors, and in 1387 the custody of the park at Lyminge was united with that of the park at Saltwood, presumably indicating that the house had been demolished between those dates. Building stone, probably from the site, including a number of carved Norman capitals have been found at Great Woodlands Farm, North Lyminge, Ottinge, and in a wall at the Rectory (Goodman and Cyprien). (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

Lyminge was the site of an early Anglo-Saxon monastery, built on a pagan Saxon royal site. However it seems to have had little post-Conquest significance. The site has been subject to intense archaeological investigate since 2008. See Lyminge Archaeological Project.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTR159408
Latitude51.1262817382813
Longitude1.08536005020142
Eastings615990
Northings140860
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

Calculate Print

Books

  • Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales Vol. 3 Southern England (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) p. 320-25
  • Thompson, M.W., 1998, Medieval bishops' houses in England and Wales (Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing) p. 171
  • Goodman, A. and Cyprien, M., 1986, A Traveller's Guide to Early Mediaeval Britain
  • Hasted, Edward, 1799 (2edn), The history and topographical survey of the county of Kent Vol. 8 p. 78-91 online transcription

Journals

  • Jenkins, R.C., 1889, 'Remains of the basilica of Lyminge' Archaeologia Cantiana Vol. 18 p. 50-1 online copy
  • Jenkins, R.C., 1861, 'On some fragments of Norman building recently discovered at Great Woodlands, in the parish of Lyminge' Archaeologia Cantiana Vol. 4 p. 123-6 online copy

Other

  • Payne, Naomi, 2003, The medieval residences of the bishops of Bath and Wells, and Salisbury (PhD Thesis University of Bristol) Appendix B: List of Medieval Bishop's Palaces in England and Wales (available via EThOS)