Nonsuch Palace

In the civil parish of Ewell.
In the historic county of Surrey (Modern Authority of Surrey, 1974 county of Surrey).

Site of royal palace situated in Nonsuch Little Park. It was constructed in 1538 and comprised two-storey timber framed buildings arranged around interconnecting courtyards. The courts were constructed in contrasting styles, the outer court was described as being `castle like', the inner court `of gothic fabric walls uncomparably beautified'. The stables, barn and bakehouse were constructed in 1598. Parts of the palace were demolished by 1682, the remainder was ruins in 1710. The palace was also described as having elaborate gardens and included a walled Privy Garden, the wilderness and an orchard. Archaeological survey carried out by RCHME field survey between 1993-95 identified earthworks associated with the palace and gardens. The main ranges survived as scarps, however, some partly relate to Biddle's excavation trenches. The two main courts each measure 60 metres square; the gatehouses and the rear of the inner court were marked by granite obelisks. The Palace was aligned on the central axis of the walled Privy Garden, with the north face of the outer court abutting the wall, overlooking a bowling green which survived as a fairly level sub-rectangular mound, with a triangular embankment to the north.

This site has been described as a;
Palace.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Certain.
Nothing visible remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TQ22766313

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; 615381

• Web site links
  • http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_south/176/nonsuch.html
• Books
  • Keevill, Graham D., 2000, Medieval Palaces, An Archaeology (Stroud; Tempus) p1, 30, 47, 56-7, 64, 67, 70, 81, 113, 116-7, 137-9, 141, 155-7, 159, 162-3
    Thurley, Simon, 1993, The Royal Palaces of Tudor England (Yale University Press)
    James, T.B., 1990, The Palaces of Medieval England (London; Seaby) p16-9, 24, 160-3, 170, 172, 175-6
    Colvin, H.M., Ransome, D.R. and Summerson, John, 1982, The history of the King's Works, vol4: 1485-1660 (part 2) (London) p179-205
    Dent, J., 1962, The Quest for Nonsuch (London)
    Timbs, J. and Gunn, A., 1872, Abbeys, Castles and Ancient Halls of England and Wales Vol1 (London) p144-6
• Journal Articles
  • Glanviille, P., 1969, London Archaeologist Vol1 p111-13
    Biddle, M., 1961, 'Nonsuch Palace 1959-60: an interim report' Surrey Archaeological Collections Vol58 p1-21
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • William Camden, 1607, Britannia [http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/cambrit/barkseng.html#surrey8]