Exploring the historic moat: guided tour
Descend into the ancient moat at Fulham Palace with a guided tour!
Join us for a rare chance to explore the historic moat of Fulham Palace as part of Open House London. Once the largest domestic moat in England, this now-hidden feature is usually closed to the public.
On this exclusive tour, our experienced volunteer guides will take you down into the bed of the moat where you’ll uncover its fascinating history and the stories it holds.
More about the moat
Just four miles from Hyde Park Corner and a short walk from the Thames, Fulham Palace has been home to more than a hundred Bishops of London. The Palace once sat inside the largest domestic moat in England and has seen royal banquets, a renowned botanical garden and centuries of architectural change.
The moat’s story goes back hundreds of years. The site was once known as The Eights, possibly after an ‘eyot’ or river island. The first written mention of a ‘magna fossa’ (great ditch) dates to 1392. In the 1920s, after complaints that the moat had become ‘unsanitary’, Bishop Winnington-Ingram ordered it to be filled with builders’ debris despite public protest.\
An excavation in 2011 uncovered part of the moat and bridge, revealing remains of an earlier timber bridge from 1249 to 1285 and pottery from the late 13th century. Finds from the 1920s infill included glass bottles, stoneware and an enamel sign. The current bridge is Tudor, refaced around 1815.
Event details:
- This is a free event as part of Open House London.
- This event is suitable for all ages.
- This tour will last approximately 20 minutes.
- This tour includes uneven ground and multiple steps.
