More information : (SU 924047) Bishops Palace (NR) (1)
From early times Aldingbourne was one of the chief seats of
the Bishop of Chichester, who had there a 'palace' or
manor-house and a large demesne farm. By 1606 the place was
in decay although when the manor was sold in 1648 it included
the manor house and chapel. No buildings now remain and although
the site of the 'palace' is uncertain, early maps agree with
modern tradition in placing it adjoining Tote Copse, a castle
mound (See SU 90 SW 5).
A park attached to the manor is noted in 1225 and mention is
made of its paling in the same century. Most of the large timber
had been felled before the mid-17th c and the whole was disparked
about that time. (2)
Park shown in area to SE of Aldingbourne village (a)(b)(c)(d). (3)
No traces of the park were found during fieldwork. (4)
Air photographs taken at the time of the excavation of
Tote Copse failed to reveal any signs of the Bishops Palace. (5)
No ground evidence of the Bishops Palace or the Park exists
today, but according to Mr Morris of Aldingbourne Mill, the
site of the Palace is reputed to be at SU 922050. A crop mark
on RAF, AP 60774, running in part along the parish boundary at
SU 91600418 could be the course of a park pale, but nothing
remains on the ground. (6)
Yeakell and Gardner's Map of 1778 (7a) shows decoy ponds at
SU 921043 which were destroyed by the construction of the railway
c.1880.
The lowland along Aldingbourne Rife was apparently used for wildfowling. (7b) (7)
(SU 91650485) Decoy Lane; (SU 92250435) Decoy Farm. (8)
Rectangular Crop marks centred at SU 92478 04785 as seen on Google maps, image date 6 June 2013 - interpreted as possible location for Bishop's palace/manor house (10)
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