Waynefletes Tower, Esher

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Waynfletes Tower; Wolseys Tower; Esher Palace; Esher Place; Esher Episcopi

In the civil parish of Esher. In the historic county of Surrey (Modern Authority of Surrey, 1974 county of Surrey).

Wayneflete's Tower was built circa 1475-80 by Bishop William Waynflete of Winchester as the gatehouse to Esher Palace (Time team date to 1462-72). It is four storied, built of brick and in its general form is similar to a number of contemporary brick gatetowers built by other major religious and aristocratic patrons. It contained a central vaulted hall flanked on its south side by a large heated room entered through a high quality door. On the north side there was a stair turret and a room which probably served as a porter's lodge. At first floor level there may have been a tall hall rising through the first and second floors of the central and south bays of the building. The other major surviving phase of fabric dates from the 1730s and was executed by William Kent for Henry Pelham. Never very defensive but later C18 Gothick alterations make it look even less so. Site of palace of bishops from C13. Early C17 plans show keep-like building (square tower with corner turrets) so possibly site of castle. Excavated by Time Team in Sept 2005.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TQ13086510

Air Photo from Air Photo and general mapping	1st edition OS Map from Mid to late 19th century maps
Modern Map from Landscape form and features	Modern Map from General location and route planning
Geograph British Isles occasionally has photos of the site and will usually give an idea of the surrounding landscape.

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 397606
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 212 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website.

• Web site links
  • http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/T/timeteam/2006_esher.html
    http://www.waynefletetower.com/index.htm
    http://elmbridgemuseum.org.uk/?Document=200.010.010x1
    http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_south/176/wayneflete.htm
    http://www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/GetRecord/SHHER_212
• Books
  • Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses Vol3 (Cambridge) p336-7, 430-34
    Rainbow, Penny, 2006, A Complete History of the Tower of Esher – a William Wayneflete Landmark (Penny Rainbow)
    Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of Surrey (Malvern) p23
    Thompson, M.W., 1998, Medieval bishops' houses in England and Wales (Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing) p11, 12, 112, 123, 148, 186
    Thurley, Simon, 1993, The Royal Palaces of Tudor England (Yale University Press) p44, 50
    James, T.B., 1990, The Palaces of Medieval England (London; Seaby) p20, 141, 159
    Colvin, H.M., Ransome, D.R. and Summerson, John, 1982, The history of the King's Works Vol4: 1485-1660 (part 2) (London) p89-90
    Pevsner, N. and Nairn, Ian, 1971 (Revised Cherry, Bridget), The Buildings of England: Surrey (London, Penguin) p222-3
    Malden, H.E. (ed), 1912, VCH Surrey Vol4 p399
    Clinch and Montgomerie, 1911, Malden, H.E. (ed), VCH Surrey Vol3 p448-9 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43005
    Lambert, G., 1884, Esher Place
• Journal Articles
  • Turner, D.J., 1975, Surrey Archaeological Society Bulletin Vol120 p2
    Thompson, M.W., 1960, Surrey Archaeological Collections Vol57 p85-92
    1959 May, Country Life p1077
    Floyer, J.K., 1919, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of London Vol32 p69-79
    Nevill, R., 1880, Surrey Archaeological Collections Vol7 p214-21
• Other sources, 'grey' literature, unpublished works, etc. (Theses, in-house reports and other such)
  • Time Team (Mike Aston et al), 2006 Feb 12 (1st broadcast), 'The first Tudor palace?' Time Team TV Programme (Time Team, a Videotext/Picture House production for Channel 4)
    Payne, Naomi, 2003, The medieval residences of the bishops of Bath and Wells, and Salisbury (PhD Thesis University of Bristol) Appendix B: List of Medieval Bishop's Palaces in England and Wales [available via http://ethos.bl.uk ]