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Archbishop's Palace, Maidstone

The area of Maidstone was probably given to the archbishops of Canterbury as a royal gift during the seventh or eighth centuries. In about 1207 the rector William Cornhill gave his house to the archbishops, and some of this building may survive as ruins close to the present palace. Most of Cornhill's house, however, was demolished and rebuilt largely by Archbishop Courtenay in the 1390s. Courtenay replaced Archbishop Sudbury who was killed at the Tower of London during the Peasants Revolt of 1381. Unlike the relatively benign Sudbury, Courtenay was a fearsome Archbishop who wanted to burn people who did not hold orthodox religious convictions. He was held back in this by Richard the Second. In many ways the complex of buildings at the Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone reveals Courtenay's personality. As well as rebuilding the Archbishop's Palace, in 1396 he ordered the building of the huge All Saints Church next to the Palace. Most parish churches grew through slow historical evolution. All Saints on the other hand was carefully planned as a symmetrical piece of architecture from the outset. It was built to impress, and reveals the ambitious and controlling influence of Courtenay.

All Saints Chuch

At the time of the Reformation in the sixteenth century, Henry the Eighth moved to dismantle the Catholic Church establishment. The Archbishop's Palace at Maidstone was taken by the Crown, and eventually sold to John Astley, Master of the Queen's Jewels. He refronted the building, giving the palace its present appearance. The Archbishop's Palace, once home to the Church's most senior figures is used today for civic functions. Ironically as Maidstone's register office, civil marriage ceremonies now take place there, for people who do not want a church wedding. I actually got married at the Archbishop's Palace, and one of the stipulations for the ceremony was that no music with religious connotations could be used. I personally liked the music from Schubert's Ave Maria. This is a piece in which Schubert originally used the words of Walter Scott's hymn The Lady of the Lake, which happens to start with the words "Ave Maria" - the name of a traditional Catholic prayer. Subsequently, in a kind of accident, the whole of the original song was replaced by the words of the Ave Maria hymn. I remember thinking that perhaps all music has religious connotations, and what is considered religious and secular might only be divided by the same kind of accident that made Schubert's piece a "religious" one. Courtenay himself wanted to make a clear divide between believers and non believers, between the exclusive knowledge of the Church and ordinary knowledge. Echoes of painful sixteenth century confusion seemed to come down to me listening to a registrar politiely but firmly outlining the rules.

The Maidstone palace was once part of a much larger complex which extended around the courtyard. A few buildings from that complex survive. Most impressive is the Archbishop's Stables which sits opposite the palace, and now houses Maidstone Carriage Museum. Sadly a major road now runs right through the middle of the old courtyard, although there are plans to change this. Information signs in the courtyard show illustrations of the complete palace complex.

Opening Times: The Archbishop's Palace is not usually open to the public, but can be viewed from the courtyard, where information panels describe its history, and from the river path. A small, attractive physic garden beside the palace is open during the summer months. Group visits can be organised by calling the contact number below. You can of course get married there!

The Tyrwitt Drake Carriage Museum, housed in the Archbishop's Stables, is open May to mid September 10.30am - 4pm. Group visits can be arranged at other times. Entry is free.

Directions: The Archbishop's Palace is just off Mill Street in the centre of Maidstone. There is a public car park close by. Both Maidstone stations are within easy walking distance. Click here for an interactive map centred on the Archbishop's Palace.

Access: Disabled access to the public areas of the Archbishop's Palace is good. In the Carriage Museum, only partial access is possible.

Contact:

Archbishop's Palace:

phone: 01622 752891

Carriage Museum

phone: 01622 602838