The King's House, erected after the Dissolution of St Augustine's Abbey, formed part of a scheme to establish posting houses between London and Dover for the use of the King and distinguished visitors. Others were set up on sites of supressed monasteries at Dartford and Rochester. (1) Conversion of monastic buildings to royal palace - detailed account. (2) At the dissolution Henry kept the abbot's lodging as a royal palace. A new range of buildings was also constructed on the S side of the Great Court where the E and W ranges had been adapted for his use. This was for Anne of Cleves, expected in England shortly. Work carried on day and night from 5th October - 21st December 1539. The palace was rarely used by Henry VIII or his successors. It was granted to Cardinal Pole, 1556-8 and was eventually leased as a nobleman's house. Edward Lord Wotten, lessee from 1612 employed John Tradescant the elder to lay out gardens E of the palace. The palace remained intact, though increasingly ruinous, until the end of the C17, and was probably finally destroyed by the storm of 1703. (TR 15415778 - see illustration card for plans). (3) Additional references. (4-7)

<1> St Augustine's Abbey DOE Handbook 1955 5-7 photo (A Clapham) (OS Card Reference). SKE49560.

<2> Hist of the Kings Works 4 pt 2 1982 59-63 (HM Colvin) (OS Card Reference). SKE44043.

<3> St Augustine's Abbey and the Royal Palace CAT leaflet Dec 1988 plans (T Tatton-Brown M Sparks) (OS Card Reference). SKE49546.

<4> Arch Cant 100 1984 325 344 (M Sparks) (OS Card Reference). SKE34535.

<5> St Augustine's Abbey:Rpt on Excavs 1960-78:KAS Mon IV 1988 10-14 87 (D Sherlock H Woods) (OS Card Reference). SKE49599.

<6> St Augustine's Abbey Eng Heritage Handbook 1988 12-13 (M Sparks) (OS Card Reference). SKE49565.

<7> Simon Thurley, 1993, The royal palaces of Tudor England : architecture and court life (Monograph). SKE53699.