But the palace was destroyed under the orders of Cromwell in 1644 but there are still adequate remains for the visitor to explore.

The town itself dates back to the middle ages and there are a fine selection of 17th and 18th century building some of which still house the traditional and specialist shops for which the town is renowned for.

It is situated on chalk downs between Winchester and Portsmouth on a scenic route and nearby is the Marwell Zoological park.

St Peters Church

It was also the place that King Henry II  called for supplies for the Crusade and Richard the Lionheart was a guest after be coming king. William of Wykeham also died here as did William of Waynflete.

When Britain was at war with Napoleon there were many French prisoners brought back here and one of these was a painter called Garneray. And it is said that while he was on a prison ship he tried to escape with a friend but due to the deep sticky mud he became trapped and hence recaptured, but his companion died.

The imposing walls of the palace at Bishops Watham
The guest lodgings now the shop and entrance.

The main entrance to the Palace ruins

Abbot's Pond lies nearby and was built to dam a tributary of the River Hamble but is now the headwater of the river.

The church is dedicated to St Peter and was built during the 12th century and then restored in the 19th and it is said that here can be found the original Saxon font discovered in a garden in Houchin Street back in 1933. Three cannon balls of the Cromwellian era were unearthed in the  palace grounds. The church entrance is a simple wooden door with a simple wood lock  and at the top of the door is the date 1613.

"Underneath ye Stone Between this Seate and ye Pillar next adjoynge lies Interred ye Body of ye much Lamented & pious Charitable good Catholick Mary Kerby wife of Robert Kerby Esq & Daughter of William ffisher of Holt Gent Deced. who departed this life ye 25th day of August Annoq Dni 1716. To ye great losse & Griefe of her Husband Relations and Neighbours Aged 61 Adjoyning on the South Side of which Stone lies also the body of Robert Kerby Esq Husband of the said Mary Kerby who died this 11 day of March 1723 in the 63d year of his age"

Plaque in St Peters Church

The crested canopied pulpit  was donated by Lancelot Andrewes, the Dean of Westminster  in 1600, and its panels are finely decorated with arches and foliage. William Brook preached from here for 59 years . In front to the altar is a place stone memorial to a Dr Ward, who was rector here and one of the translators of the bible, and who was also the teacher of Andrewes.

The United Reform Church

A rose carved near the top of the east window is the mark of William Wykeham who built the chancel and the altar rails and chair are decorated with angels and a crown and are believed to be from the 17th century. A side aisle contains a Tudor altar that has four cannon balls and a monument to Elizabeth and Robert Kerby  and there is a bust of Thomas Ashton.

Bishops Waltham street scenes