Friends of Woking Palace

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To contact us:email: askus at woking-palace.org

Registered Charity No.1100852

Copyright © 2008 Friends of Woking Palace
Last modified: 13th April 2008

editor at woking-palace.org

As a result of diving operations in the river adjoining the site, a number of artefacts of archaeological interest were recovered from the river, including several pieces of blue and white tile. Following examination by the Museum of London it was suggested that these tiles might well be unique and of national, if not international importance.

 

With the help of generous funding by the Surrey Archaeological Society the Council for British Archaeology in the South East and Awards for All South East. the provenance of the tiles has been established by scientific analysis, consultation with various international experts on Antwerp, Spanish and Portuguese tiles and  comparison with tiles of similar date from other manorial houses in south-east England.

 

The tiles have all proved to be Valencian although these may derive from different production sites or be of different dates. It is hoped to publish the report in the Surrey Archaeological Society’s Collections.

 

Although Valencian tiles have also been found at Guildford, Billericay and Dartford, the Palace site has produced the largest assemblage of such tiles found anywhere in Britain. Unfortunately, there are no whole tiles from the Palace site but whole tiles found at Billericay and Newark Priory give an idea of how some of the Palace tiles would have looked when these were laid in the late 15^th and early 16^th centuries. The Palace fragments on the right would have looked like the corresponding whole tiles discovered at Newark Priory and Billericay (two tiles) respectively

 

In addition, the larger Palace fragment on the left below has enabled the whole design to be reconstruction in a four tile arrangement on the right.

Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Grant

We have been successful in our application to HLF. The award of £30,7000 will enable site presentation to be improved through regular phased cutting and strimming and the installation of solar panels to provide adequate electricity supply for general power and lighting. The foundations will be marked out with woodchip and a woodchip screed created in the King’s Hall. There will also be improved visitor facilities and increased on-site security. Better interpretation of site will include an education corner developed in association with the Lightbox.

Rose design

Shield design

Border design

See Home for proposals in connection with the Vault