The former Palace of the Archbishop of York stands next door to the Minster, adjoining the present official residence of the Bishop of Southwell. The Palace as we see it today dates from the 14th Century and was wrecked during the Civil War. The ruined part can be admired up-close from the Palace Gardens. The surviving built part of the Palace – the Great Hall – was restored in the Edwardian era. The Hall retains its original proportions and the beams of the magnificent vaulted ceiling of the State Chamber are mostly medieval originals.

The Palace's most famous occupant is Cardinal Wolsey. It was in the State Chamber of the Great Hall that he would have held his last frantic meetings in 1530 to try and extricate himself from his failure to secure Henry VIII a divorce from Catherine of Aragon. Equally, the room’s function makes it a reasonable supposition that Charles Ӏ would have met his advisers here and, following his capture in Southwell, his arrest was formalised here. Certainly, the Palace was his first place of final imprisonment.

The Palace Gardens are a fantastic place to explore and discover the history of the site through living plants. The features of the enclosed garden are inspired by medieval, Tudor, Georgian and Victorian gardens, reflecting the timeline of the Palace. A wonderful landscape with wide open lawns, it is full of herbs, shrubs and flowering plants chosen not only for their historical relevance, but also for their shape and beauty. Special areas of the grounds have been set aside to encourage a wildlife. The woodland area provides links to the famous ‘Leaves of Southwell’ – the thirteenth century carved stone leaves in Southwell Minster’s Chapter House.

Booking is essential and tours are limited to a maximum of 15 people so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Please arrive 10 minutes prior to the tour start time and check in at the Welcome Desk to help us start on time. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult at all times whilst taking part in tours.

If you have any particular access needs, please indicate when booking, or email office@southwellminster.org.uk

Online bookings close 48 hours before the event.

We look forward to welcoming you soon!

Please wear suitable footwear.

You can also book a tour of the Minster earlier in the day, 10.30-11.45am or later at 2.00-3.15pm, by visiting https://www.southwellminster.org/tours/

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Saturday Tours of The Archbishop's Palace and Palace Gardens - 2025