Orsett, Bishop Bonners Palace

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Ringwork), and also as a Certain Palace (Bishop)

There are earthwork remains

NameOrsett, Bishop Bonners Palace
Alternative Names
Historic CountryEssex
Modern AuthorityThurrock
1974 AuthorityEssex
Civil ParishOrsett

Ring and bailey earthwork. Comprises a circular enclosure (200ft internal diameter), surrounded by ditch c50ft wide. To the north an oblong bailey enclosed by a well-defined ditch, on the north side defences are strengthened by a second ditch. 'The work is said to be the site of a palace of the bishops of London'. The only building remains consist of a fragment of rubble foundation on the north-west side of the ringwork. In a wood, 200yds to the west, is a large oblong fish pond. In 1086 13 hides were held by the Bishop of London, but one of these held by Eustace de Boulogne. (Unlocking Essex's Past)

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTQ641822
Latitude51.5151786804199
Longitude0.363730013370514
Eastings564110
Northings182260
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Osbourne, Mike, 2013, Defending Essex (Stroud: The History Press) p. 24
  • Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales Vol. 3 Southern England (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) p. 234 (mention)
  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of East Anglia (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 37
  • Thompson, M.W., 1998, Medieval bishops' houses in England and Wales (Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing) p. 180
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 146
  • RCHME, 1923, An inventory of the historical monuments in Essex Vol. 4 (south-east) p. 105 no. 2 (plan) online transcription
  • Gould, Chalkley, 1903, 'Ancient Earthworks' in Doubleday, Arthur and Page, Wm (eds), VCH Essex Vol. 1 p. 286 (mention as moats and banks) online copy

Journals

  • King, D.J.C. and Alcock, L., 1969, 'Ringworks in England and Wales' Château Gaillard Vol. 3 p. 90-127

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)