The Restoration of the Tudor Fulham Palace

An illustrated talk on Wednesday 19th June by Community Archaeologist Alexis Haslam

Friends of Putney Library have organised an illustrated talk on Wednesday 19th June by Alexis Haslam, Community Archaeologist at Fulham Palace - "The Restoration of the Tudor Fulham Palace".

The history, restoration work and community based archaeological investigations at Fulham Palace.

What is the Fulham Palace Restoration Project?

Once enclosed by the largest domestic moat in England, the site of Fulham Palace has an extensive history stretching back some 6,000 years. It was purchased by Waldhere, the Bishop of London, in AD 704 and remained a residence of the Bishops until 1973 when Bishop Stopford left. The current buildings comprise our Tudor quadrangle, constructed between 1493 and 1495, the adjoining Georgian building and our beautiful walled garden which was enclosed in the late 18th century.

The Palace is currently undergoing a 3 year £3.8 million restoration project with £1.88 million granted by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the remainder match funded. The scheme aims to restore our Tudor Quadrangle, bring key rooms such as the Great Hall back to life, improve access, and reintroduce historic varieties of plants once grown at the Palace by some of our more famous botanical bishops.

Part of the project has also involved community based archaeological investigations and in 2017 we undertook a large excavation in front of the Palace building. This dig produced a significant assemblage of early 17th century plaster work which had been removed from the Palace in the mid-18th century and dumped in what was then a paddock. A large medieval ditch was also found to contain significant quantities of kitchen waste dating to the Tudor period.

The project has provided a wonderful opportunity for volunteers to get involved with discovering more about the history and fabric of the Palace as we aim to restore our beautiful buildings and grounds to their former glory.

Free entry, but advised to book a ticket in advance from the library.
Call 020 8780 3085 or email Charlene.coleman@gll.org.

6.30pm - 7.30pm Drinks available from 6pm.

May 7, 2019