Kelvedon Abbots Palace

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Knights Templars Terrace; Old Red Lion; The White Lion

In the civil parish of Kelvedon.
In the historic county of Essex (Modern Authority of Essex, 1974 county of Essex).

Nos. 1-5 High Street and No. 1 Church Street appear to have formed the provincial Mansion of the Abbot of Westminster. Dating to the early C16, it is a timber-framed building infilled with plaster and yellow brick, with a range of five large bays facing south-east and three rear wings of two bays, forming an E-plan. Following the Dissolution it was converted to an inn. This property was part of the manor of Church Hall, held by the Abbot of Westminster from before the Conquest until 1539, then by the Bishop of Westminster, and from 1550 by the Bishop of London. The position, size and high quality of timber and workmanship indicate that it was built for the Abbot of Westminster as a provincial mansion, continuing in similar use after the Dissolution. The manor was leased from 1553, and by 1604 the building had become a major inn called 'The White Lyon', later 'The Red Lion'. By 1791 this house and no. 7 (item 9/160) had been converted to 4 tenements, as they remain today. In a major restoration of c.1878 panelling was found bearing carvings of pomegranates, a heads, strawberry leaves and the crest of Henry VIII, now missing, and a photograph was taken of the Church Street elevation stripped to the timber framing. The brick facades and present windows and doors date from that operation.

This site has been described as a;
Palace.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Possible.
Earthworks remains.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TL85911843

Modern Map from Good for landscape form and features	Modern Map from Good for general location
Air Photo from	1st edition OS Map from

Sources of information, references and further reading

PastScape number; 881623

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 30072