Archbishop Sandes caused the palace at Scrooby to be leased to his son, Sir Samuel Sandes. The house has since been demolished almost to the ground. It was standing within memory (1677). (1)
The manor house or archiepiscopal palace of Scrooby, was built of brick and wood, and contained 39 rooms, including a domestic chapel. The remains of the moat can be seen, but the mansion has disappeared. The present farmhouse may incorporate part of the building, or be built from the materials of it. (4)
The site of the palace is now the home close of a farmhouse. There was a bridge and a gatehouse at the entrance, and the area was walled round in brick. (5)
The palace, at Scrooby, was constantly used by the Archbishops of York in the C13 and C14, and remained in use until the episcopate of Archbishop Sandes (1577-89). (7)
Some water in the moats. (9)
The published siting symbol was not confirmed. This part of the enclosed area is grass covered and hummocky. Some of these disturbances, in conjunction with the remains of fishponds, can probably be ascribed to landscape gardening. Others are suggestive of concealed foundations. There is no evidence to suggest that part of the former palace is incorporated in the present farmhouse. Possible material from it utilised in the building include the remains of 2 C16 windows contained in the W wall, and carved oak beams in the roof structure of one of the farm outbuildings. (Detailed description of earthworks - see Parish File.) (10)
Site consists of 2 acres of earthworks separated by a track. The field to the E has earthworks up to 1m high and evidence of dried moat along the E edge of the field. Diversion of the river to the N of the site some years ago drained the moat. To the N of the track a bank c 1-1.5m high and ditch survive running the length of the field boundary, becoming indeterminate at the N end. (12)
See M5779 for fishponds.

Data Held (Document). SNT2647.

OS card, Parish File

Data Held: Aerial Photograph (Aerial photograph). SNT2645.

CCL 265/0399/5

Data Held: Aerial Photograph (Aerial photograph). SNT2645.

CCL 259/0199/3

Data Held: Ground Photograph (Ground photograph). SNT2646.

7 colour print, negs B48/6, SMR

<1> Throsby J, 1796, Thoroton's History of Notts Vol 3, pp 439 - 40 (Published document). SNT1347.

<2> Parker JH, 1859, Some Account of Domestic Architecture in England: Richard II to Henry VIII, p 225 (Published document). SNT141.

Other Refs: pt 2

<3> Stevenson W, 1893, Bygone Notts, pp 233-249 (Published document). SNT1329.

<4> Bradford Hist and Ant Soc, 1901-5, The Bradford Antiquary, pp 36-8 (Published document). SNT318.

Other Refs: NS vol 2

<5> Thoroton Society, 1905, TTS, p 7 (Published document). SNT332.

<6> VCH, 1906, Notts, p 310 (Published document). SNT1383.

<7> Rait RS, 1911, Episcopal Palaces, York, p 5 (Published document). SNT1174.

<8> Thoroton Society, 1942, TTS, p 72 (Published document). SNT359.

<9> DOE, AM7 - undated, no author (Unpublished document). SNT52.

<10> Emsley RW, 1960, Pers Comm (Personal comment). SNT669.

<11> Colquhoun FD, 1974, Pers Comm (Personal comment). SNT582.

<12> Dodd A, 1988, AM107 (Unpublished document). SNT620.

<13> Doncaster Museum, Air photos (Aerial photograph). SNT644.

Other Refs: 1-8,19