Sarah Mullally DBE praises the restored Palace at chair’s summer garden party
Press release July 2019
Last week, the supporters of Fulham Palace celebrated this historic year in the Palace’s history with a summer garden party in the walled garden, hosted by Bishop Sarah Mullally DBE. The event was attended by the Palace’s supporters, including the Patrons and Friends of Fulham Palace.
Sarah Mullally DBE, the current Bishop of London gave a speech at the event, thanking the Palace’s supporters generosity. She also praised the site’s recent restoration:
This restoration is able to make a difference to people’s lives. It brings people together to discover their shared history. It provides new skills, giving new knowledge, giving a sense of belonging. The history of the Bishops of London is intertwined with the history of Fulham Palace and it speaks about present and of our past, but most importantly of our future.
Bishop Sarah also presented the Bishop Compton medal – an award given to one or more individuals who have made a significant contribution to fundraising at Fulham Palace. Sir Charles Nunneley was singled out for his generosity over an ongoing period and for the instrumental part he played as a member of the Palace’s campaign board.
The market barrow was laden with plants and fresh fruit and vegetables grown in the garden’s beds. The garden apprentices, Ellie, Alphonso and Hattie were giving gardening tips and telling guests more about how they care for the Palace’s historic garden.
Guests were entertained with jazz, performed by local musician Angus Murray and The Friends of Fulham Palace held a tombola. Prizes included an original artwork – a painting of the Palace’s Gothic Lodge – and a dinner for two at Munuka Kitchen in Fulham. The tombola raised almost £1,000 which will go towards the Palace’s work.
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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 to the public, opening a brand new museum and bringing key historic rooms back to life. Access around the botanic garden was also improved and 80 historic varieties of plants were planted in the new Bishop Compton beds.
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
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