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The Tudor Palace
1588

During the latter part of the 16th century Elizabeth was closing in on her prize and sent her surveyors William Medley and Thomas Lovell to take a look at Somersham palace and describe the building she hoped to own.

The rooms belonging to the chief house, being all upon one court and environ'd with Bricke, include the lodgings in the tower next to the chapel, the bishop's own chamber, the bishop's oratory, the chapel, turrets, vetry, the gallery adjoining the bishop's chamber, the withdrawing chamber, great chamber, study chamber, chamber upon the garden, one other little chamber loking into a little court by the garden, the Cardinal's chamber and two other chambers under the same, the Guarde Robe chamber, buttery kitchen, larders and scullery. Besides this there was the Bishop's Olde Lodging which lyeth on the front and face of the uttermost grete court comeing in, 120 feet long by 13 feet wide, with stable and barnes in the said court; also a long front of building for servaunts lodgeings lyeth upon the north side of the house wherein the porters lodge, 240 feet long by 18 feet wide one end of which sinketh towards the moat.

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