Bromley Borough Local History Society
Registered Charity
No. 273 963
Bromley Borough Local History Society
Croydon Palace
Croydon Old Palace - Friday 1st April 2016
Squashed between a major road, a factory and Victorian terraces and overshadowed by an ugly glass office block is a Grade I listed hall dating back to the 14th century - this is Croydon’s Old Palace. Formerly home to the Archbishop’s of Canterbury and once surrounded by fishponds and three rivers, excellent deer hunting and horse racing, it attracted Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I on several occasions.
It is now a school and only open to the public during school holidays. The building has suffered many changes since the C14th and this can be seen in the remaining buildings, with blocked up windows and doors, new stairs and changes in brickwork.
Still to be seen is the magnificent Great Hall, a guard room, a chapel and a long gallery leading from Queen Elizabeth's bedroom We were asked not to film indoors so if you want to see what it is like, you will have to visit during the next holiday when regular tours are given by volunteer Friends of Croydon Palace.
Click on an image below to see a larger version - you can then move forward or back using the arrows on either side.
