A residence within the manor was first mentioned in 1272. The palace was at its heyday in Tudor times and was much repaired and improved by that dynasty. It was never a principal royal residence but more a “stopping-off point” or a week-end hunting place. On the other hand it was a substantial establishment with farm buildings, two chapels, and stables and accommodation for a considerable number of guests from royalty and the highest circles in the land with their attendants and staff.

The Fish Ponds

By the time of Queen Elizabeth I’s death it had fallen out of favour with royalty and James I passed it to the nearby estate owner, Sir Edward Zouch, in 1620. By that time the site was probably waterlogged. Moreover taste by then favoured a conspicuous house proclaiming the owner’s status, but Woking Palace was low-lying, hidden and off the beaten track. Hoe Place was built as a replacement and the palace fell into disuse.

The moat had been defensive. As moats required royal consent, the provision of a moat indicated influence in high places and great numbers were dug simply as status symbols. As was usual the Woking moat had served as a rubbish dump and as a sewer. The right-angled bend in the river has been found to be artificial and to have been created in connection with a wharf for barge traffic. The site is not merely of archaeological interest but is also the habitat of much wild life and rare plants.

Based on a report by Alfred Vice on a talk given by Mr Steve Dyer, Woking Council's Consultant Archaeologist to the Woking Palace site.