Skip navigation
Top Banner
Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker
Surrey History : Exploring Surrey's Past - Historic Environment Record Banner Image
[Text Size: A A+]

Historic Environment Record

The HER data on this website must not be used for commercial enquiries. For more information see our Terms of Use.

Please e-mail HER@surreycc.gov.uk and your enquiry will be dealt with as soon as possible.

HER 463 - Woking Palace

Scheduled Monument
Woking Palace was not only a palace but also in effect the manor house of the old Royal Manor of Woking which had more or less similar boundaries to the ancient parish of St Peter’s, Woking. The Palace stood in a park the boundaries of which were roughly the present day Old Woking Road, Pyrford Common Road, Church Hill and Newark Lane with the River Wey as its southern boundary. Under the ownership of Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII, various building works turned the Manor into a Palace. The Palace was frequently visited by Henry VII on his accession to the throne and by his son Henry VIII who extended and enlarged the Palace between 1515 and 1543. Further work was carried out between 1565 and 1594 during Elizabeth I’s reign. In 1620 the Palace was granted by James I to Sir Edward Zouch who abandoned it and built himself a new manor house at Hoe Place. There is some evidence that materials from the Palace were reused in the construction of the new house. It is possible too, that some of the fine glass at Sutton Place was taken from the Palace and the Jacobean style staircase at Fishers Farm may well have originated from the same source. When the Palace was abandoned in the 1620s, the Park was turned over to farming. This new phase probably gave rise to the building of farmhouses in the Park or the conversion of existing buildings to such use. The Old House and Woking Park Farm both shown in the margin were probably two of those farmhouses. Archaeologically, little trace remains of this history. A small building measuring 30ft by 18ft with one window and two doors has been recorded, as has a run down barn. A shallow depression is all that remains of what was referred to by the Victoria County History as a double moat. It is suggested that two "stagnant ponds" in Oldhall Copse, at the north-west of the moated enclosure may be the fishponds of the palace. The site is now a scheduled monument.

Monument Information
Record TypeMonument
Protection Status
  • Green Belt
Scheduled Monument Number12752
ConditionPoor
Loading map...

Data represented on the interactive map is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features. Further information

Location
Grid ReferenceTQ 029 570
ParishWoking
Parish (old)Woking
DistrictWoking, Surrey
Map SquareTQ05NW
GeologyAlluvium
GeologyAlluvium
Type and Period
Evidence TypeMonument TypeDate Range:
BUILDING
EARTHWORK
MOAT
PALACE
Medieval
Post Medieval
13th Century
16th Century
Medieval 1066-1540

Related Records

Archaeological History
ActivityPerson & OrganisationDates 
area excavation Poulton, R
SCAU
2005-07-05Click here for more information
DescriptionThe excavation of six post holes, for the erection of three notice boards, revealed no deposits or finds of archaeological interest, with the dubious exception of one small sherd of medieval Surrey whiteware.Author and Project Manager Rob Poulton
LocationSurrey, Woking, Woking,
Grid ReferenceTQ 029 570
Associated Sources
TitleAuthorTypeMore info
Produced by Surrey County Archaeological Unit Poulton, R documentmore...
ReferenceAn archaeological excavation of post holes for notice boards to be erected at Woking Palace National Monument Number 12752
Reference06/07/05
ReferenceThe excavation of six post holes, for the erection of three notice boards, revealed no deposits or finds of archaeological interest, with the dubious exception of one small sherd of medieval Surrey whiteware.
ReferenceR Poulton author and Project Manager
Holding Location Surrey HER 1 part
archaeological intervention Dyer, S
1995-01-01Click here for more information
DescriptionAuthor: Steve Dyer Archaeological Consultancy
LocationSurrey, Woking, Woking,
Grid ReferenceTQ 029 570
Associated Sources
TitleAuthorTypeMore info
Dyer, S documentmore...
ReferenceArchaeological Survey at Woking Palace, Old Woking
Reference01/06/99
Reference2 copies held at the SMR. One contains fullsize plans and the contains palns reduced in size to A3
Holding Location Surrey HER 1 part
Ref: Victoria County History of Surrey
Ref: 31/12/1911
3Surrey HER1 part382-3, 44-49, 124-6, 27-30, 240
Ref: The Buildings of England: Surrey
Ref: 31/12/99
Ref: ISBN 0140710213 First and second edition held by SMR
Surrey HER 2 copies1 part382-3, 44-49, 124-6, 27-30, 240
Ref: Surrey Archaeological Collections
Ref: 31/12/1879
7Surrey HER2 part382-3, 44-49, 124-6, 27-30, 240
Ref: Surrey Archaeological Collections
Ref: 31/12/58
55Surrey HER1 part382-3, 44-49, 124-6, 27-30, 240
Ref: Research volume of the Surrey Archaeological Society
Ref: 31/12/76
3Surrey HER1 part382-3, 44-49, 124-6, 27-30, 240
Ref: Surrey Archaeological Collections
Ref: 31/12/86
77Surrey HER1 part382-3, 44-49, 124-6, 27-30, 240
Ref: Medieval Moated Sites and Settlement in Western and Central Surrey
Ref: 31/12/82
Ref: Unpublished BA Dissertation from Queens University Belfast
Surrey HER1 part382-3, 44-49, 124-6, 27-30, 240
Ref: Surrey Archaeological Collections
Ref: 31/12/00
87Surrey HER1 part382-3, 44-49, 124-6, 27-30, 240
Ref: Woking Palace: The History
Ref: 06/11/04
Ref: Contains the text of the guide to Woking Palace plus maps and photographs and information on the finds from the site.
Ref: 2004 edition 3.1 held by the SMR Copies can be purchased from the Surrey History Centre or directly from FWP
Surrey HER1 part382-3, 44-49, 124-6, 27-30, 240
Ref: Archaeological Survey at Woking Palace, Old Woking
Ref: 01/06/99
Ref: 2 copies held at the SMR. One contains fullsize plans and the contains palns reduced in size to A3
Surrey HER1 part382-3, 44-49, 124-6, 27-30, 240
Ref: An Archaeological Examination of the Foundations for the Surviving Upstanding Walls of Woking Palace
Ref: 01/01/93
Surrey HER1 part382-3, 44-49, 124-6, 27-30, 240
Ref: Surrey Archaeological Collections
Ref: 01/02/09
Surrey HER1 part382-3, 44-49, 124-6, 27-30, 240
Ref: Surrey Archaeological Collections
Ref: 31/12/96
83Surrey HER1 part382-3, 44-49, 124-6, 27-30, 240
Ref: An archaeological excavation of post holes for notice boards to be erected at Woking Palace National Monument Number 12752
Ref: 06/07/05
Ref: The excavation of six post holes, for the erection of three notice boards, revealed no deposits or finds of archaeological interest, with the dubious exception of one small sherd of medieval Surrey whiteware.
Ref: R Poulton author and Project Manager
Surrey HER1 part382-3, 44-49, 124-6, 27-30, 240
Source
DetailsVolumeHolding InformationPublisher InformationPages
area excavation Poulton, R
SCAU
2005-07-05Click here for more information
DescriptionThe excavation of six post holes, for the erection of three notice boards, revealed no deposits or finds of archaeological interest, with the dubious exception of one small sherd of medieval Surrey whiteware.Author and Project Manager Rob Poulton
LocationSurrey, Woking, Woking,
Grid ReferenceTQ 029 570
Associated Sources
TitleAuthorTypeMore info
Produced by Surrey County Archaeological Unit Poulton, R documentmore...
ReferenceAn archaeological excavation of post holes for notice boards to be erected at Woking Palace National Monument Number 12752
Reference06/07/05
ReferenceThe excavation of six post holes, for the erection of three notice boards, revealed no deposits or finds of archaeological interest, with the dubious exception of one small sherd of medieval Surrey whiteware.
ReferenceR Poulton author and Project Manager
Holding Location Surrey HER 1 part
archaeological intervention Dyer, S
1995-01-01Click here for more information
DescriptionAuthor: Steve Dyer Archaeological Consultancy
LocationSurrey, Woking, Woking,
Grid ReferenceTQ 029 570
Associated Sources
TitleAuthorTypeMore info
Dyer, S documentmore...
ReferenceArchaeological Survey at Woking Palace, Old Woking
Reference01/06/99
Reference2 copies held at the SMR. One contains fullsize plans and the contains palns reduced in size to A3
Holding Location Surrey HER 1 part
Ref: Victoria County History of Surrey
Ref: 31/12/1911
3Surrey HER1 part382-3, 44-49, 124-6, 27-30, 240
Ref: The Buildings of England: Surrey
Ref: 31/12/99
Ref: ISBN 0140710213 First and second edition held by SMR
Surrey HER 2 copies1 part382-3, 44-49, 124-6, 27-30, 240
Ref: Surrey Archaeological Collections
Ref: 31/12/1879
7Surrey HER2 part382-3, 44-49, 124-6, 27-30, 240
Ref: Surrey Archaeological Collections
Ref: 31/12/58
55Surrey HER1 part382-3, 44-49, 124-6, 27-30, 240
Ref: Research volume of the Surrey Archaeological Society
Ref: 31/12/76
3Surrey HER1 part382-3, 44-49, 124-6, 27-30, 240
Ref: Surrey Archaeological Collections
Ref: 31/12/86
77Surrey HER1 part382-3, 44-49, 124-6, 27-30, 240
Ref: Medieval Moated Sites and Settlement in Western and Central Surrey
Ref: 31/12/82
Ref: Unpublished BA Dissertation from Queens University Belfast
Surrey HER1 part382-3, 44-49, 124-6, 27-30, 240
Ref: Surrey Archaeological Collections
Ref: 31/12/00
87Surrey HER1 part382-3, 44-49, 124-6, 27-30, 240
Ref: Woking Palace: The History
Ref: 06/11/04
Ref: Contains the text of the guide to Woking Palace plus maps and photographs and information on the finds from the site.
Ref: 2004 edition 3.1 held by the SMR Copies can be purchased from the Surrey History Centre or directly from FWP
Surrey HER1 part382-3, 44-49, 124-6, 27-30, 240
Ref: Archaeological Survey at Woking Palace, Old Woking
Ref: 01/06/99
Ref: 2 copies held at the SMR. One contains fullsize plans and the contains palns reduced in size to A3
Surrey HER1 part382-3, 44-49, 124-6, 27-30, 240
Ref: An Archaeological Examination of the Foundations for the Surviving Upstanding Walls of Woking Palace
Ref: 01/01/93
Surrey HER1 part382-3, 44-49, 124-6, 27-30, 240
Ref: Surrey Archaeological Collections
Ref: 01/02/09
Surrey HER1 part382-3, 44-49, 124-6, 27-30, 240
Ref: Surrey Archaeological Collections
Ref: 31/12/96
83Surrey HER1 part382-3, 44-49, 124-6, 27-30, 240
Ref: An archaeological excavation of post holes for notice boards to be erected at Woking Palace National Monument Number 12752
Ref: 06/07/05
Ref: The excavation of six post holes, for the erection of three notice boards, revealed no deposits or finds of archaeological interest, with the dubious exception of one small sherd of medieval Surrey whiteware.
Ref: R Poulton author and Project Manager
Surrey HER1 part382-3, 44-49, 124-6, 27-30, 240

The online HER is not suitable for commercial use, as some information has been withheld from online publication for reasons of confidentiality or protection of sensitive sites. Further Information.
The inclusion of a site in the database in no way implies that public access is available. The vast majority of sites (including Scheduled Monuments) and buildings are on private land and have no public access. Further Information.

About this record

This is the record of an archaeological site, find, a historic building or a park and garden from Surrey’s Historic Environment Record (HER).

The HER is the most up-to-date and comprehensive record of known archaeology within Surrey, and a great starting point for research into any aspect of the historic environment of Surrey.

Find out more
Please contact us for further details.

Have your sayHave your say

Tags or Keywords

Tagging is a way to add keywords to connect related records.

Add a comment or story

Your comments about Woking Palace

©2007 Surrey County Council. All Rights Reserved. Exploring Surrey's Past