HRH The Duchess of Cornwall officially reopens Fulham Palace
Press release June 2019
On Wednesday 12 June, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall visited Fulham Palace to officially reopen the brand new museum and historic rooms.
As the Palace’s Royal Patron, Her Royal Highness was able to see for herself the major improvements to the Palace since her previous visit 18 months ago. Mariana Spater, Fulham Palace’s chair, and Sian Harrington, chief executive, welcomed The Duchess and showed her the restored Palace.
The Duchess first went to the garden where she met members of the gardening team, including Hattie, and apprentice gardeners, as well as the Palace’s longest standing member of staff, Chris Richardson who has been working at the Palace over 40 years.
Her Royal Highness then met with volunteer gardeners, who were tending to the Palace’s walled garden. The Palace has over 250 volunteers, of which around 50 volunteer in the garden.
Bee keeping volunteer Sarah Nicholl-Carne, then spoke to The Duchess about the Palace’s hives, which sit in the floral walled garden. The Duchess was later presented with a jar of sought after Fulham Palace honey, made by Sarah and the Palace’s other beekeeping volunteers.
After seeing the garden, The Duchess visited the house, which was once home to the Bishop of London for over 1,300 years. Her Royal Highness toured the new museum, learning about Bishop Compton, the botanising Bishop who enjoyed chillies on salads and home-grown tomatoes.
Her Royal Highness spoke to donors in the Tudor great hall, who have supported the restoration project, and commented that so much had been done to the Palace since she last visited. There were also short speeches from Sian Harrington (CEO), Mariana Spater (chair) and Ros Kerslake (chief executive at The National Lottery Heritage Fund).
The Duchess then unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion. The plaque will be put on display in the royal porch at the Palace.
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Notes for Editors
Entry to Fulham Palace is free
Further information and press images
Nicola Price, Fulham Palace Trust | 020 7610 7166 | communications@fulhampalace.org
About Fulham Palace
Fulham Palace is the historic home of the Bishops of London. Acquired in AD 704, for centuries the Palace and surrounding estate served as a country retreat for the bishops and their families before becoming the Bishop’s permanent residence in the early 20th century until the last Bishop moved out in 1973. The Palace and 13 acre botanic garden are now managed by Fulham Palace Trust, an independent charity dedicated to the ongoing preservation, restoration and interpretation of this historically important site.
Restoration and renewal
In May 2019 Fulham Palace Trust completed a £3.8 million three year restoration project, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Discovering the Bishop of London’s Palace at Fulham project includes increased visitor access to some of the oldest parts of the Palace, bringing key historic rooms back to life, and a new museum, designed by conservation architect Purcell. The project also includes improving access around the botanic garden and replanting historic varieties of plants.
Fulham Palace has a wealth of things to see and do all year round, from finding out about the lives and characters of the Bishops of London in the museum and the long history of the site dating back to the Neolithic period, to having lunch in the drawing room café or a walk through the Palace’s beautiful garden, including taking a look at fresh produce grown in the Palace garden on the market barrow in the walled garden. Admission to Fulham Palace and its garden is free, except for special tours and events.
The Palace is available to hire as a stunning venue for weddings as well as private and corporate events. It can also be hired as a location for filming, with many period rooms spanning the Tudor to Georgian periods and substantial gardens.
Visitor information
Entry is free
The Palace and garden are open throughout the year – please see website for details of opening times for the museum, café, botanic garden and walled garden.
Access
The Palace and garden are accessible to people with disabilities and assistance dogs are welcome. Limited disabled parking is available to book.
Travel
Fulham Palace is located on Bishop’s Avenue, Fulham, London SW6 6EA just off Fulham Palace Road (A219). It can be reached easily by tube to Putney Bridge Underground Station (District Line) and train to Putney Station (Southwest Trains, travel time approximately 15 minutes from central London) and by local buses stopping on Fulham Palace Road, Fulham High Street or Putney Bridge Approach (14, 22, 39, 74, 85, 93, 220, 265, 270, 414, 424, 430). Metred parking is available on Bishop’s Avenue.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Using money raised by the National Lottery, they inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. www.heritagefund.org.uk.
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