Question: What if I told you Otford was once home to a palace rivaling Hampton Court? This is the story of Otford. It is a village with a history stretching back millennia. Today, we’ll focus on one of its most impressive periods.
Otford’s story is one of archbishops, royalty, and a magnificent palace. The Archbishops of Canterbury owned Otford manor since the ninth century. Offa, King of Mercia, gifted the land to Archbishop Wulfred. It became a convenient stop for archbishops traveling to London and Canterbury. Royalty also used it on their way to Dover.
Around 1515, Archbishop William Warham began an ambitious building project at Otford. He created a palace that was grander than Hampton Court. It was one of the largest houses in England. Constructed from red brick, the palace featured two main courtyards. The inner courtyard sat on the moated site of the medieval manor house. A wooden bridge connected it to the great gallery. The medieval great hall, chapel, and state apartments were all within this moated site. The outer courtyard was rectangular. It included a gallery with 21 chambers for the archbishop’s household. The palace also boasted formal gardens, fishponds, rabbit warrens, and a 220-acre deer park.
Warham and his successor, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, hosted many notable guests at Otford Palace. Erasmus, the Humanist scholar, and Holbein, the painter, were regular visitors. Cardinal Campeggio, the Papal Legate, stayed at Otford in 1518.
King Henry VIII visited Otford Palace several times. In 1514, he escorted his sister Mary to Dover, stopping overnight at Otford. In 1520, Henry and his wife, Katharine of Aragon, stayed at Otford on their way to the Field of Cloth of Gold. Princess Mary lived at the palace in 1532 and 1533.
In 1537, Otford Palace became Crown property. Cranmer surrendered it to Henry VIII. He also surrendered Knole Palace in exchange for less valuable lands. Despite its grandeur, Otford’s low-lying location was a problem. Henry preferred Knole.
After Henry VIII’s death in 1547, Otford Palace declined. Mary I granted it back to the Archbishopric. However, it soon reverted to the Crown. Queen Elizabeth I considered Otford one of her progress houses. However, she only visited twice during her reign. In 1592, Elizabeth granted Otford to Sir Robert Sidney. The palace continued to deteriorate.
Today, only fragments of Otford Palace remain. Part of the north range still stands. This includes the north-west corner tower, part of the northern gatehouse, and a connecting wall now forming cottages. You can view these remains from the outside. The Otford Heritage Centre has a model of the palace as it appeared in the sixteenth century.
The Archbishop’s Palace Conservation Trust plans to conserve the ruins and create an interpretation center. This center will provide information about Otford Palace. It will also cover the Tudors and the history of the Otford and Darent Valley area.
So, as you stand here in Otford, remember the grand palace that once stood nearby. Imagine the archbishops, royalty, and notable figures who walked these grounds. Otford’s history is rich and fascinating, a testament to its importance throughout the centuries.