Clarendon Palace
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Clarendon Palace is an ancient ruin in Wiltshire, England.
The palace was a royal residence during the Middle Ages.
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[edit] Roman Times
There is evidence that the Romans used Clarendon Forest on a regular basis. A Roman road connecting to Old Sarum passes east-west approximately 2 miles north of Clarendon Forest.
[edit] Hunting Lodge
Clarendon Forest was rediscovered during the 11th century and a park was constructed within the forest. By 1130 a hunting lodge had been built within the park.
[edit] Residence and Palace
Both Henry II and Henry III invested heavily in the property and converted it into a royal residence and palace.
At its best the palace consisted of several buildings surrounding a central courtyard and contained inside a small wall. The palace occupied approximately 5 acres and included terraced gardens.
By 1453 usage of the palace was declining as successive monarchs were spending more time in London. By 1574 the building was described as a simple hunting lodge.
[edit] Confiscation
In 1649 the execution of Charles I resulted in the confiscation of Clarendon Palace by parliament.
Abandoned, Clarendon Palace deteriorated and by the 18th century the surviving parts were being used as simple farm buildings.
All that now survives above ground level is the one end wall of the Great Hall. A tile-kiln discovered on the site by archaeologists has been reconstructed and is now at the British Museum.
