Beckley Palace

Has been described as a Possible Palace (Royal)

There are no visible remains

NameBeckley Palace
Alternative NamesDovers Field
Historic CountryOxfordshire
Modern AuthorityOxfordshire
1974 AuthorityOxfordshire
Civil ParishBeckley And Stowood

"Palace" of Richard of Cornwall - building begun 1227; house destroyed 1233. Traces of foundations and a moat observed near Dovers Field.

Capital messuage of honor of St Valery and "palace" of Richard of Cornwall - building begun 1227; house destroyed 1233 by Richard Siward as a reprisal for his desertion of the marshal. Traces of foundations and a moat observed near Dovers Field by White Kennett. (VCH, 1957)

Not classifiable as magnate's residence or as any type of castle for MPP; moat has been scored for MPP.

Evaluation during early stages of construction of private dwelling at NGR SP 5633 1124. Features interpreted as pits suggest nearby domestic activity, which could range from Saxo-Norman to C15th, clearly before and after the 1227 - 1233 "Beckley Palace" occupation. (OAU, 1992) (Oxfordshire HER)

Gatehouse Comments

Site of former manor house, royal residence and dower house, and hunting lodge at Beckley, extant from C13-C16.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSP564113
Latitude51.7975082397461
Longitude-1.18353998661041
Eastings456400
Northings211300
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Goodall, John, 2011, The English Castle 1066-1650 (Yale University Press) p. 463
  • Colvin, H.M., Brown, R.Allen and Taylor, A.J., 1963, The history of the King's Works Vol. 2: the Middle Ages (London: HMSO) p. 898-90
  • Lobel, Mary D. (ed), 1957, VCH Oxfordshire Vol. 5 p. 56-7 online transcription
  • Mackenzie, J.D., 1896, Castles of England; their story and structure (New York: Macmillan) Vol. 1 p. 166 online copy

Journals

  • 1993, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter Vol. 23 p. 69

Other

  • Oxford Archaeological Unit, 1992, The Walled Garden, High Street: Archaeological Evaluation.