@otfordpalace
Archbishop's Palace Conservation Trust: Regenerating a fresh awareness of the iconic Otford Palace, the Tudor residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Warham. Otford, Kent. Registered charity, number 1173486 https://otfordpalace.org/
In October 2025, Archaeology SouthEast carried out an investigation of the floor in the North-West Tower funded by the Pilgrim Trust. As part of that project, they produced a short video that is now available on the Otford Palace You Tube channel at:
youtube.com/watch?v=kBli...
The Otford Wassail will take place on 17th January (‘Old Twelvey’). Join us for a lively revival of this ancient orchard tradition as we gather to bless Otford Heritage Orchard's trees and wish for a fruitful harvest and good health in the year ahead.
We will meet on the Village Green at 4:30pm
Otford Palace Essays can be found in the Library section of the Otford Palace website: otfordpalace.org
The interior of the surviving Tower of the Tudor Archbishop's Palace
From time to time, Trustees write short essays on Otford Palace, published on the website.
The essay on the North-West Tower brings together what is known of the surviving Tower from the Tudor Palace, its architecture, archaeology, and the plans for its future: otfordpalace.org/wp-content/u...
The remaining Tower of Otford Palace is silhouetted against the night sky, the moon shining a bright white light above it
Moon shining bright over Otford Palace
One of the best photographs of Otford Palace ever. (c) Lucia Hrastic, a talented local photographer
The Supa Jam students stand outside Otford Palace Tower in the sunshine
A group of students & tutors from the Supa Jam Academy in Swanley (www.semmuk.com) visited Otford to collect sounds of Otford to create a composition, incl in the Tower - The plan is the resulting composition will be given its first performance in the Otford Palace Tower next year in late Jan/Feb
Some of our collections from the 1983 archaeological dig on the floor of the Tower - includes Tudor green tile and a variety of post-Medieval pottery shards. These were available for viewing during our Archaeology talk on Wednesday
Anne Sassin from Kent Downs National Landscape completed the evening with a description of the dig on a medieval building discovered in the middle of Great Inner Court. The Archbishop’s Palace Conservation Trust thanks both speakers and the Pilgrim Trust who sponsored the evening
An excellent Wednesday evening to hear the account of recent archaeological investigations at Otford Palace. Michael Shapland from Archaeology SouthEast discussed the investigations on the floor of the North-West Tower & gave insights into the ancient history of Otford as a regional centre of power
From the Sevenoaks Chronicle, 30th October 2025, page 10
The temporary floor in Otford Palace Tower -
The archaeologists have left, and the temporary floor in the Tower has been re-laid in time for Otford Palace to be turned into Santa’s Winter Palace. Thanks for the hard work go to Stewart and Jack Baird, and to Jamie Sutherland
Such a lovely morning in the Palace Heritage Orchard!
The team from Archaeology SouthEast completed their investigation of the floor in the North West Tower - The finds were bagged for analysis & careful drawings were made of the excavations.
To hear about their findings, come to the talk on Wednesday 12th November in the Otford Village Memorial Hall.
Save the date: 350 years of mud and cow dung
A date for your calendar:
A joint meeting of the APCT and ODHS on Wednesday 12th November at 19:30h in the Club Room of the Otford Village Memorial hall.
Save the date: 350 years of mud and cow dung
A date for your calendar:
A joint meeting of the APCT and ODHS on Wednesday 12th November at 19:30h in the Club Room of the Otford Village Memorial hall.
We have two new worksheet resources on our website under 'Darent History Takeaway' connecting Otford Palace with wider national History. Story, Source, Scholarship worksheets aimed at Key Stage 3-4, editable with PowerPoint
otfordpalace.org/darent-histo...
Archaeology SouthEast are due to start their investigation of the ground floor of Otford Palace Tower. Before the architects can design the permanent floor, we need to know what is beneath 350yrs of mud & cow dung! In preparation, Stewart & James Baird have removed the temporary floor - thank you!
We have two new worksheet resources on our website under 'Darent History Takeaway' connecting Otford Palace with wider national History. Story, Source, Scholarship worksheets aimed at Key Stage 3-4, editable with PowerPoint
otfordpalace.org/darent-histo...
The Tower is again transformed into a grotto for Father Christmas. We are also looking to find funds for an exciting new project that will enable visitors to explore the Tudor Palace 2/2
We have been busy revising our plans for the restoration work & seeking funding to carry them out. The next stage is to commission an archaeological investigation of the floor in the Tower, to find out what may lie beneath 350 years of mud & cow dung! It should take place later this year 1/2
Archbishop Thomas Cranmer was #OnThisDay 1489. He gained possession of Otford Palace upon his succession to the role of Archbishop of Canterbury. Whilst at the Palace, Cranmer began writing his Book of Common Prayer. Henry VIII took possession of Otford Palace from Cranmer in 1537 #Kent #Tudor
The Otford & District Historical Society is celebrating its 75th Anniversary this year - an exhibition to mark the occasion will be held in the Palace Tower. Free entry, open from 11:30-16:00 on 21st & 22nd June. See the exhibits showing Otford over the past 75 years & the inside of the Palace Tower
The Otford & District Historical Society is celebrating its 75th Anniversary this year - an exhibition to mark the occasion will be held in the Palace Tower. Free entry, open from 11:30-16:00 on 21st & 22nd June. See the exhibits showing Otford over the past 75 years & the inside of the Palace Tower
View of an archeological trench showing pre Tudor stonework and tiles
Dr Anne Sassin, lead archaeologist said “Our aisled hall is definitely medieval, judging from the pottery constructed likely c1250-1350.
You can read more about this exciting discovery on our website at otfordpalace.org/2023/04/22/t... & a full report on the research will be published in due course.
Dr Anne Sassin, lead archaeologist said “Our aisled hall is definitely medieval, judging from the pottery constructed likely c1250-1350.
You can read more about this exciting discovery on our website at otfordpalace.org/2023/04/22/t... & a full report on the research will be published in due course.
The Aisled Barn at Otford Palace
Those who came to the Otford Palace May Day celebrations on 27th April, had the opportunity to see the excavation on the pre-Tudor aisled building discovered in the Great Inner Court of the Tudor Palace. 1/2
Dr Anne Sassin, lead archaeologist said “Our aisled hall is definitely medieval, judging from the pottery constructed likely c1250-1350.
You can read more about this exciting discovery on our website at otfordpalace.org/2023/04/22/t... & a full report on the research will be published in due course.
The Aisled Barn at Otford Palace
Those who came to the Otford Palace May Day celebrations on 27th April, had the opportunity to see the excavation on the pre-Tudor aisled building discovered in the Great Inner Court of the Tudor Palace. 1/2
A remaining tower from the Tudor Archbishop's Palace stands against a sunny blue sky
A very beautiful May Day three weeks ago
Tomorrow!