The Friends came into being in the 1960s when the Sisters who managed the School saw the value of a voluntary body giving parents, past pupils and others an opportunity to become involved in fund-raising activities. Around that time the Sisters also received a grant of £1000 for urgent repairs to the building on condition that they opened it to the public on specific days of the year, and realised they would be unable to fulfil this request without outside assistance. Thus the Friends were given the twin aims of raising money for, and organising tours of Old Palace, and these remain their two principal functions today.
Click HERE for Membership Application Form
JOIN THE FRIENDS
While you're on the tour, you'll be able to see some of the ways in which
the money raised by the Friends has been used - for example, hand-crafted furniture in the
Guard room, stained glass and solid wood seating in the Chapel, the restored Tudor
Dining Room of Cardinal Morton, all much appreciated by pupils and visitors alike. And you can
join the Friends, too, if you would like to express your ongoing support for the work we do.
October: Tuesday 26th, Wednesday 27th, Thursday 28th, Friday 29th.
Unfortunately Old Palace will not participating in the LONDON OPEN HOUSE weekend in 2021. We hope that things will be back to normal in 2022
Admission: Adults £7 | Concessions (60+) £6 Children U16 £3
The Secretary would appreciate an address and telephone number when enquiries are made on-line.
Doors open at 1.30pm. Please note carefully that, except for OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND, ALL TOURS COMMENCE AT 1.45pm.
Booking is not necessary unless you are planning to come as a group of 10 or more (upper limit 20) - in which case please phone
us on 020 8656 5563 or e-mail us marybob1@hotmail.com for further information.
Please note that groups, over ten in number, will be asked for a £2 per head, non-returnable deposit.
Sadly, Old Palace is not suitable for wheelchairs.
The pictures below give but a small idea of what awaits the visitor at Old Palace. Click on each of
them for a brief description and an enlarged image.
Each tour lasts two hours, including a stop for tea and cake in the Great Hall, and the tea is included in the price of the tour.
All tours are guided and unaccompanied touring of the building is not permitted. Photography is also not permitted.
HOW TO FIND US
The Old Palace is situated in the Old Town
behind the Parish Church in Old Palace Road (which is off Church Street - the Gun Tavern is on the corner).
Click HERE for a map of the Croydon area.
PARKING
Parking is not available in the school carpark, unless there are special circumstances.
Old Palace is easy to reach now by public transport thanks to Tramlink, Croydon's new tram
system. The Church Street stop is right opposite the end of Old Palace Road. East Croydon train station is a
20 minute walk and West Croydon train station is 15 minutes away by foot. HOMEPAGE