Kensington Palace Hotel, Kensington Road, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea - Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment

Wessex Archaeology

There is archaeological evidence from the early Mesolithic through to the Iron Age within the Study Area with a prehistoric site recorded at Vicarage House, Vicarage Gate to the north west of the Site. Other prehistoric finds have been recorded from the
Study Area. Communication links, in the form of roads, were constructed probably from the Iron Age period with the line of Akeman Street running along the modern Kensington High Street which is presumed to join up with the Silchester to London
Road during the Roman period.

Evidence for the medieval period is available in documentary form but little archaeological evidence exists. The manor was held by Aubrey De Vere for the Bishop of Coutances and was probably in the vicinity of St Mary Abbots Church which was originally built in 1370. Many large residences were built during this period and Nottingham House (originally on the site where Kensington Palace stands) was bought and later rebuilt and used by reigning monarchs. Kensington Gardens were opened to the public by William IV.

The Site, prior to 1717 until the mid 19th century, was comprised of orchard land and became a riding school by 1862. De Vere Gardens was largely developed between 1875 and 1885 with residential housing, although houses in the northern part of the
Site area were converted to the Kensington Park Hotel soon after their construction. No marked changes are recognisable in the 1935 edition of the Ordnance Survey map, but after bomb damage to the hotel during WWII the Site was extensively remodelled.

There is low archaeological potential for the Prehistoric, Roman, Saxon and Medieval periods, and a medium to high potential for Post-medieval and Modern material on the Site. Given that the Site has been base-mented throughout its footprint, the
recommendations of this report are that the risk posed to the archaeological resource by the proposed development can be mitigated by an archaeological watching brief during the trenching of construction foundations and basement extensions. This would ensure that any potentially significant effects of the development would be offset by archaeological recording of the resource.