Earlier Houses: There were probably earlier buildings on the site of the current complex.

House & Family History: Lambeth Palace is the last survivor of the great London seats of English bishops along the south bank of the River Thames. The archbishops of Canterbury have owned the site since the late 12th century, when this part of London was the Surrey countryside. The beginnings of what is today Lambeth Palace were put in place in 1190 by Baldwin of Forde Abbey, a Cistercian monk who was elected archbishop of Canterbury in 1184. Though the early English chapel and its undercroft are survivals from the 13th century, the rest of the palace complex is an amalgam of six centuries of buildings and restorations. The palace is particularly noted for its hammer-beamed-roofed great hall (today the library), which was rebuilt in the 1660s (see "Images" section). Before the construction of the first Westminster Bridge, one of the principal river crossings was via a horse ferry that operated between Lambeth and Millbank. The tolls from the ferry went into the coffers of the archbishops of Canterbury; thus, when Westminster Bridge was opened in 1750 the archbishop received compensation for loss of business.

Country Life: Oct 18 & 25, 1990.

House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Grade II

Current Seat / Home of: Archbishop of Canterbury

Current Ownership Type: The Church of England

Primary Current Ownership Use: Mixed Use

Ownership Details: The palace serves as CoE offices and the London home of the archbishop of Canterbury

House Open to Public: Limited Access

Phone: 02078-981-200

Fax: 02072-611-765

Website: http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org

Historic Houses Member: No