Fulham Palace

Fulham Palace

Fulham Palace, near Putney Bridge, was the riverside residence of the Bishops of London from 704 to 1973. It is said to have had the longest moat in England, and it has beautiful grounds including a knot garden. These gardens were made famous in the seventeenth century when Bishop Compton imported rare species of plants such as magnolia and grew them in England for the first time.

The ley passes obliquely through the eastern end of the palace, and goes through the sites of all three Bishop's Chapels which have existed there. The medieval one was in the centre of the east end, and projected further into what is now the garden. The eighteenth century one was on the north-east wall, where the two rooms housing the museum now are, and the windows with the pointed tops remain from this. The nineteenth century chapel is an adjoining church building. There was head-hum felt in the two museum rooms, indicating that it is a powerful spot.

18th century chapel windows

Neolithic settlement was discovered at Fulham Palace, and several Roman roads converged at a ford, linking two Romano-British communities, west of the present parish church. It is not certain if the convergence is on this ley. There were also many earthworks in the area, though it is not certain if these dated from the Iron Age or from Viking settlement in the ninth century.

 

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The 19th century Bishop's Chapel

 

 

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