site, but the buildings were in such poor condition that she had to dine in a temporary "banquett house". Confiscation and decay In 1649 the execution of Charles I resulted in the confiscation of Clarendon Palace by Parliament. Following the restoration of Charles II in 1660, the park passed briefly into the hands of George Monck, and then in 1664 to Edward Hyde, who (apparently in anticipation of acquiring the estate) had already, in 1661, taken the title Earl of Clarendon. A new mansion, Clarendon Park, was built in a classical design elsewhere in the park in the early 18th century. Abandoned, Clarendon Palace deteriorated, and by the 18th century the ruins survived only as a romantic "eye-catcher" in the landscape, and as simple farm buildings. Nikolaus Pevsner wrote in 1963: A series of campaigns of archaeological excavation were undertaken at the site between 1933 and 1939 by the Finnish art historian Tancred Borenius. Further excavations were carried out in 1957, 1964, 1965 and in the 1970s and 1980s. A tile-kiln discovered on the site has been reconstructed and is now at the British Museum. All that is visible now above ground level is the one end wall of the Great Hall. The site is a scheduled monument. References Bibliography External links English Heritage PastScape listing Friends of Clarendon Palace 1130 establishments in England Buildings and structures completed in 1130 Houses completed in the 12th century Ruins in Wiltshire Archaeological sites in Wiltshire Royal residences in England Palaces in England Former palaces in England Ruined palaces Scheduled monuments in Wiltshire Henry I of England Henry II of England George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle