Palace House and entrance steps

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 24/07/2018 TL 6463 7/145

NEWMARKET (including EXNING) PALACE STREET Palace House and entrance steps

(Formerly listed as Palace Mansion and entrance steps)

GV II* House; originally wing of Royal Palace. Circa 1669, altered in 1705 and remodelled in circa early to mid C19 and/or 1857. Red brick, with tuck pointing to original parts; recently cement rendered. Slate hipped roof with deep bracketed eaves. Brick axial stacks.

Plan: approximately square double depth plan; the surviving south east wing of Charles II's Palace, altered in 1705, reduced in circa 1815 and remodelled as private house and raised in early to mid C19 or possibly 1857.

Exterior: Three storeys, first floor a piano nobile. Symmetrical three bay south east front. Large twelve-pane sashes, those on ground floor circa early C18 sashes with thick ovolo moulded glazing bars. Stone flight of steps with marble cross to central first floor: doorway with rusticated architrave, rectangular overlight and panelled door; similarly rusticated doorway below steps. Band at first floor level. Left hand (south west) elevation 2:3 windows, left hand advanced and with two storey canted bay; large central ariel on brackets and moulded soffit with thin pilasters between large twelve-pane sashes and carved apron panels and frieze (possibly reused carvings) and with iron cresting above.

Interior: The 1705 staircase has been moved but retains carved bracket tread ends. There are some late C17 bolection moulded and fielded two-panel doors, other C18 and C19 joinery including C19 panelling, apparently in C18 style. Plastered groin vaulted cellar.

Historical Note: James I's hunting seat was at Newmarket and later a Royal Palace was built by Charles I, but destroyed during the Commonwealth. In 1661 Charles II bought Earl of Thomond's house and enlarged it as a Royal Palace. The remains of this Palace comprise the two lower storeys of Palace House. The Crown disposed of the Royal Palace in 1815 and in 1857 Baron Meyer Rothschild bought it. Palace House became the seat of the English branch of the Rothschild family and Edward VII reputedly often visited.

Sources: H. Colvin, Biographical Dictionary of British Architects; History of the King's Works V pp 214 - 217.

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Listing NGR: TL6443663360