The Bishop’s Palace, Ely was one of the residences of the Bishop of Ely from the 15th century until 1941. It is a Grade I listed building.^[1]

The palace was built in the 15th century by Bishop John Alcock however just two towers from the original building remain. He also completed the bishop’s palace (now Wisbech Castle) at Wisbech (where he died in 1500). Bishops over the following centuries expanded and remodelled the palace.^[1]

In 1541, King Henry VIII founded a College of Canons at Ely Cathedral to replace the monks whose monastery had been dissolved in 1539

The Bishop’s Palace at Ely was used as a prison for Catholics between 1577 and 1597, and between 1588 and 1597 was exclusively a prison for lay recusants. Its inmates included Abbot John Feckenham between 1577 and 1580 and Thomas Tresham, who was imprisoned in Ely four times.

Dorney Court is a Grade I listed Tudor manor house and is situated in the village of Dorney which lies on a slight rise in the Thames floodplain, Dorney means Island of Bumble Bees and the estate is renowned for its honey which is still produced to this day. The house has changed little since its 15th century origins. The first known record of a house at Dorney is dated just after the Norman Conquest.

The house is panelled in wood and contains many interesting treasures, paintings and artefacts and it even has a ghost. The upper floor rooms have barrel vaulted chambers, one of which, the great chamber is held up by ancient twig branches.

Photo copyright Dorney Court

Stepping into the great hall is like stepping back in time. The wall panelling was once in Faversham Abbey and the fireplace predates the current Hall. Two tables are placed in the room, one on a dais for the Lord and Lady of the Manor and another for family, guests and villagers in the hall below. In Tudor times this is where they would have dined. This room used to hold the manor court which may still be legally held there today. The most recent court was held to sort out matters related to Dorney Common after the Second World War during which parts of the Common were requisitioned by the government.

Photo copyright Dorney Court

Dorney Court is home to the Palmers and has been handed down from father to son in succession since 1620 and prior to that, through marriage to the Garrards, since 1538.

The Palmer lineage goes back as far as Charlemagne, the founding father of both the French and German monarchies (747-814). John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, the Baldwins of Flanders and the Plantagenet Kings of England are other notable Palmer ancestors.

The name Palmer goes back to the crusades, Crusaders returning from the First Crusade were referred to as ‘Palmers’ for the tradition of returning home with palm-branches. From one of those crusaders descended the present occupiers of Dorney.

Not all of the Palmer family renounced their Catholic faith and they continued to practice their religion which led to their indictment for recusancy.

In the 1600s Roger Palmer (1634-1705) married Barbara Villiers whose notorious behaviour brought her to the notice of Charles II. She mothered a daughter who was born in 1661 (Anne). The King insisted that Anne be referred to as ‘Fitzroy’ (child of the King). Despite Roger’s loyalty to the monarchy, he was imprisoned on more than one occasion for his staunch support of Catholicism.

Henry Palmer (born 1646) was in the army at St. Omers when in September 1668 where he was wounded. On 1st May 1679 he was indicted for recusancy. On his way to his trial in England the passage boat was cast away and he drowned in sight of Calais.

Charles Palmer (1651-1714) was a Catholic and serving soldier. He resigned at the time of the Glorious Revolution which saw King James II being overthrown in favour of Prince William of Orange who became William III of England. In 1693 Charles was indicted for Recusancy.

In 1842 Henry Palmer became Vicar of Dorney, his name can be seen on the list of rectors and ministers within the Church of St. John the Less.

Photo copyright Dorney Court

Not surprisingly with the family’s rich Catholic heritage, in recent years the house has revealed a secret. Whilst undertaking property renovations in the parlour an entrance to a priest hole was found in the south west corner. It is thought to be connected to Burnham Abbey via a secret passage.

Sources:

Content coming soon

Update 18/09/17 – links to currently uploaded posts added below. I have some posts yet to be written. I also need to add an intro to this post

Update 25/07/23 – I still need to write the intro

People:

Imprisoned – John Gerard, Catholic Priest, 1597

John Gerard’s story told in the Salt Tower, Tower of London

The Autobiography of a Hunted Priest by John Gerard

Book Review

St Nicholas Owen Priest-Hole Maker by Tony Reynolds

Book Review

Blessed John Wall

Glass window dedication at Harvington Hall

Places:

Traquaire – The House

A refuge for Catholic priests

Little Malvern Priory

A safe house for Catholics with an chapel in the attic and what may have been secret access to the chapel

Moseley Old Hall

An Old Catholic family provides refuge for Charles I

Harvington Hall – Priest Hides

A tour of the priest hides in pictures and words

The Chapel – Harvington Hall

Attic chapel with a hide for ‘massing stuff’

Ye Olde Bell

Guesthouse with a secret tunnel to the nearby Priory – Used by Lord Lovelace of Hurley (a plotter of the ‘Glorious Revolution’)

Hurley Priory

History, Lord Lovelace connection and secret tunnels.

Dorney Court and its Recusancy Connections

This house reveals a recently discovered priest hole that is thought to be connect to Burnham Abbey via a secret passage.

The Old Bishop’s Palace – Ely

A prison for 32 Catholic recusants between 1588-97

Arundel

After King Henry VIII parted from the Church of Rome and declared himself Head of The Church of England missionary priests were able to continue their teachings in Arundel.

Plots:

Remember Remember…

An account of the Gunpowder Plot

The Habington Chest

Habington’s chest in the Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum

The Birthplace of Guido Fawkes

Guido Fawkes, was caught in the basement of the Houses of Parliament as he prepared to ignite hidden barrels of gunpowder.