DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32037#0051
ARCHIEPISCOPAL palace, croydon, surrey.
27
was deserted after this period; and, in 1780, an act of parliament was passed
to enable Arohbishop Cornwallis to alienate the buildings with some adjoining
land, in order to erect a new palace on a more elevated and dry situation,
as a summer residence for liimself and his successors.* The premises were
then sold, and the palace became degraded to the uses of a manufactory, by
which its venerable buildings have been sadly injured and disfigured. The
whole pile nearly resembled a college, being composed of various buildings,
some constructed of stone and some of brick, arranged round a quadrangular
court, of an oblong, irregular plan, about 52 yards wide from east to west,
and 72 from north to south. The principal gate was on the north side, oppo*
site to the hall, which occupied the centre of the southern range of buildings,
in which were the chief apartments. The palace appears to have been
anciently surrounded by a moat, the situation being well suited to that mode
of fortification, which was seldom neglected where a supply of water could
be had.
Plate I. — The Hall of Croydon Palace.
The form of this apartment will be best explained by reference to the ground-
plan, which is given entire, though on a small scale, shewing the plan of the
roof, as well as of the walls, windows, porch, &c. The section represents the
east end of the hall, together with one of the timber arches supporting the roof,
which is framed in four bays. The porch, which projects from the north side
towards the court, has a vaulted roof, over which was formerly a chamber,
with a chimney in one corner. This was the principal entrance, and opposite
to it is another, opening into the gardens. The three arched doors in the
eastern wall led to the buttery, kitchen, and eellar; and above them was
originally a lofty windovv, overlooking the music-gallery, which has been
entirely removed, together with the screen that supported it. In the place
of the great window, a very curious piece of sculpture has been inserted,
which appears to have been removed from another part of the palace, when
the hall was fitted up by Archbishop Herring. The royal arms of France and
England, quarterly, are impaled with tliose ascribed to King Edward the Con-
fessor. The shield is supported by two angels, and surmounted by an arched
or imperial crown. At the bottom is another angel, bearing a scroll inscribed
* The intention of erecting a new palace was not carried into effect; but, by a subsequent act
of parliament, passed in 1807, a mansion was purchased at Addington, near Croydon, which has
since been enlarged and improved, and is now the country seat of the archbishops of Canterbury.
27
was deserted after this period; and, in 1780, an act of parliament was passed
to enable Arohbishop Cornwallis to alienate the buildings with some adjoining
land, in order to erect a new palace on a more elevated and dry situation,
as a summer residence for liimself and his successors.* The premises were
then sold, and the palace became degraded to the uses of a manufactory, by
which its venerable buildings have been sadly injured and disfigured. The
whole pile nearly resembled a college, being composed of various buildings,
some constructed of stone and some of brick, arranged round a quadrangular
court, of an oblong, irregular plan, about 52 yards wide from east to west,
and 72 from north to south. The principal gate was on the north side, oppo*
site to the hall, which occupied the centre of the southern range of buildings,
in which were the chief apartments. The palace appears to have been
anciently surrounded by a moat, the situation being well suited to that mode
of fortification, which was seldom neglected where a supply of water could
be had.
Plate I. — The Hall of Croydon Palace.
The form of this apartment will be best explained by reference to the ground-
plan, which is given entire, though on a small scale, shewing the plan of the
roof, as well as of the walls, windows, porch, &c. The section represents the
east end of the hall, together with one of the timber arches supporting the roof,
which is framed in four bays. The porch, which projects from the north side
towards the court, has a vaulted roof, over which was formerly a chamber,
with a chimney in one corner. This was the principal entrance, and opposite
to it is another, opening into the gardens. The three arched doors in the
eastern wall led to the buttery, kitchen, and eellar; and above them was
originally a lofty windovv, overlooking the music-gallery, which has been
entirely removed, together with the screen that supported it. In the place
of the great window, a very curious piece of sculpture has been inserted,
which appears to have been removed from another part of the palace, when
the hall was fitted up by Archbishop Herring. The royal arms of France and
England, quarterly, are impaled with tliose ascribed to King Edward the Con-
fessor. The shield is supported by two angels, and surmounted by an arched
or imperial crown. At the bottom is another angel, bearing a scroll inscribed
* The intention of erecting a new palace was not carried into effect; but, by a subsequent act
of parliament, passed in 1807, a mansion was purchased at Addington, near Croydon, which has
since been enlarged and improved, and is now the country seat of the archbishops of Canterbury.