Sutton, Chiswick (The Gatehouse Record)

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Sutton Court

In the civil parish of Chiswick.
In the historic county of London and Middlesex.
Modern Authority of London Borough of Hounslow.
1974 county of Greater London.
Medieval County of Middlesex.

OS Map Grid Reference: TQ20367769
Latitude 51.48533° Longitude -0.26967°

Sutton, Chiswick has been described as a probable Palace.

There are no visible remains.

Description

There was a royal residence at Sutton in Chiswick for about 20 years between 1396-1415, but the history of the estate in which it stood is obscure, and its location is unknown. It stood within a moat which contained a hall, chapel, two chambers with two solars above, and a cellar with two solars above. The royal accounts indicate that the works were quite substantial. The buildings were complete by 1403, for the king often stayed there on his way to and from Windsor. In 1415, Henry ordered the buildings to be demolished and to use the materials elsewhere, mainly at the new palace at Sheen. (PastScape ref. HKW)

Royal manor built late in Richard II reign. Henry V held a council here in 1413, but in 1415 he gave orders for the demolition of the manor. Material reused at Sheen Palace. Exact site unknown. Has been mis-located as in Woking, Surrey, see HKW.

The history given in the VCH suggest the site was Sutton Court, at the given map reference and goes on "The manor house known by 1649 as Sutton Court stood near the centre of the parish, north-east of Sutton Lane. Roman brickwork and 15th-century pottery were found on its site in 1905. The dating of letters patent from Chiswick may record visits to Sutton by Henry VI between 1441 and 1443. Several houses were acquired by John de Bray but a mansion house was mentioned only in 1589, when it had a gatehouse, malthouse, and farm buildings, all in decay. The buildings, including a dovecot, had been newly mended a year later, when they stood within orchards and gardens of 3 a. The main house, with a large hall and with garrets over the upper floor, had grounds of 9 a. in 1649. It was assessed at 30 hearths in 1664"

Sources of information, references and further reading

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s) 1393786; 401199.
County Historic Environment Record (or Sites and Monuments Record) number(s) 053052/00/00.

Books
- James, T.B., 1990, The Palaces of Medieval England (London; Seaby) p. 139-40
  Directorate of Ancient Monuments and Historic Buildings, 1983, Chiswick House grounds historical survey: appraisal report (DoE)
  Baker, T.F.T. and Elrington, C.R. (eds), 1982, 'Chiswick Manors' VCH Middlesex Vol. 7 p. 71-4 online transcription
  Hedley, Olwen, 1972, Royal Places p. 158-60
  Colvin, H.M., Brown, R.Allen and Taylor, A.J., 1963, The history of the King's Works Vol. 2: the Middle Ages (London: HMSO) p. 1003-4
  Draper, Warwick, 1923, Chiswick p. 34, 80
  Lysons, Daniel, 1795, The Environs of London: Vol. 2: County of Middlesex p. 185-222 online transcription

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The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.

Suggestions for finding online and/or hard copies of bibliographical sources can be seen at this link.
Minor archaeological investigations, such as watching brief reports, and some other 'grey' literature is most likely to be held by H.E.R.s but is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded here, or elsewhere, but some suggestions can be found here.

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Further information on mapping and location can be seen at this link.

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