Bishop's Palace, Exeter

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Bishop's Palace
Bishop's Palace, Exeter Cathedral (3610830005).jpg
Bishop's Palace, Exeter, circa 1865
Bishop's Palace, Exeter
General information
Architectural style Gothic
Location Exeter, Devon
CountryFlag of England.svg  England
Coordinates 50°43′19.560″N3°31′45.408″W / 50.72210000°N 3.52928000°W / 50.72210000; -3.52928000 5
Year(s) builtMostly 13th & 19th centuries
OwnerThe Dean and Chapter
Technical details
Material Heavitree stone

The Bishop's Palace is the residence of the Bishop of Exeter in Exeter, Devon. [1] It is a Grade I Listed building. [2]

Contents

History

The Bishop's Palace was originally built under William Briwere, an early 13th century Bishop of Exeter. [3]

The palace originally incorporated a great hall, though this was later demolished. [3]

In 1916, the palace was requisitioned by the government and served as a military hospital during the First World War. [4]

The palace returned to use as the Bishop of Exeter's residence in 1948. [4]

The garden is thought to be the oldest in Devon. [5] The grounds contain a first generation Lucombe oak. [6]

Architecture

The palace was originally built in the 13th century of Heavitree stone. [2] The building underwent extensive work by Ewan Christian in 1846-8. [2]

The chapel was built in the 13th century and later restored by William Butterfield. [2]

The palace's south porch holds an inner doorway built circa 1200 composed of a monumental Gothic arch. [7]

An early 16th century oriel window was taken from the house of Thomas Elyot by St Petrock's Church, Exeter, when it was demolished with the Broadgate around 1840. [1] [2] [3]

The Gatehouse

The gatehouse to the Bishop's Palace Palace gate house, Exeter - geograph.org.uk - 737828.jpg
The gatehouse to the Bishop's Palace

The gatehouse to the Bishop's Palace is separately Grade I Listed. [8]

Like the palace itself, the gatehouse was built of red Heavitree stone, though probably slightly later in the 14th century. [8] However, some of the timbers date from the 13th century and possibly the late 12th century. [9]

The gatehouse was altered in the 18th century with a Georgian staircase and sash windows. [8] Stone windows and a half-timbered top storey were added by William Butterfield. [8] A modern slate roof has since been added. [8]

The medieval palace wall, also built of Heavitree stone, is separately Grade II Listed. [10]

Exeter Cathedral Library & Archives

The entrance to the Exeter Cathedral Library & Archives in the west wing of the Bishop's Palace Door of Bishop's Palace and Cathedral Library, Exeter (geograph 7059078).jpg
The entrance to the Exeter Cathedral Library & Archives in the west wing of the Bishop's Palace

The west wing of the Bishop's Palace houses the extensive library and archives of Exeter Cathedral. [11] [12]

The collections span the 10th to 21st centuries and include the Exeter Book. [13]

The archive is open to researchers on appointment. [12]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Cherry, Bridget; Pevsner, Nikolaus (1989). The buildings of England (2nd ed. extensively revised ed.). Harmondsworth: Penguin books. ISBN   978-0-14-071050-2.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "THE BISHOP'S PALACE, Non Civil Parish - 1222943 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  3. 1 2 3 "Archaeology Data Service: The Bishop's Palace". archaeologydataservice.ac.uk. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  4. 1 2 "Bishop's Palace Garden set to open for charity". South Hams Gazette. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  5. "Bishop's Palace | Devon Gardens Trust". www.devongardenstrust.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  6. "Inside the Bishop's Palace Garden at Exeter Cathedral". Great British Life. 2019-03-11. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  7. "Demolition Exeter: The Bishop's Palace, Palace Gate". Demolition Exeter. 2013-03-12. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "GATEHOUSE TO BISHOP'S PALACE, Non Civil Parish - 1222909 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  9. "The Bishop's Palace and Gatehouse, Palace Gate, Exeter, Devon: Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. 2021-05-20. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  10. "PALACE WALL FRONTING PALACE GATE, Non Civil Parish - 1222910 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  11. The National Archives, The National Archives. "The Discovery Service". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  12. 1 2 "Library & Archives". Exeter Cathedral. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  13. "The Exeter Book". theexeterbook.exeter.ac.uk. Retrieved 2025-02-19.