Ragstone surface, Hampton Court Palace

3D Model

A late 17th century surface uncovered just 250mm beneath a modern-day footpath. It was comprised of irregular and angular Kentish ragstones no larger than 200mm x 200mm, bonded with earth and coarse gravels; the surface levelled off with small stones, crushed CBM and patches of lime mortar. Within the cobbled surface was an east-west orientated linear detail formed by pairs of sub-rectangular ragstones. The detail was aligned with the gates of the Great Gate House and was visible along the length of the preserved surface (roughly 23m, though only 6.5m was excavated). The feature corresponds to the central of three ragstone causeways installed in the forecourt of Hampton Court Palace in 1699-1700 as part of William III’s improvement works to the main western road access to the palace.