Archbishop's Palace

The Archbishop's Palace is a 14th-century palace built beside the River Medway in Maidstone, serving as a stopping point for the Archbishops of Canterbury on their journeys between Canterbury and London. The main surviving structure is the great hall, which dates from around 1395 and is one of the finest medieval hall interiors in Kent. The stone facades facing the river are intact and the setting by the water, beside All Saints' Church, makes this one of the most photographed spots in the town.

The palace is now used as a wedding and events venue, with the historic rooms available for hire, but the exterior can be viewed freely from the riverside walk and access to some areas is available on heritage days. The combination of the palace, the adjoining Chillington Manor, and the riverside All Saints' Church forms an exceptionally complete medieval group.

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A story
The Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone was built as a rest-stop for the Archbishops of Canterbury making the journey between Canterbury and London — a trip of several days in the medieval period. Henry VI spent time here, as did Thomas Becket's successor. After the Reformation, the palace lost its ecclesiastical purpose and was used variously as a residence, a prison for Royalist officers during the Civil War, and later a stable and tanning yard before restoration in the 20th century.