The Bishop's Barn, Wells

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The Bishop's Barn
Bishop's Barn, Wells.jpg
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Location within Somerset
General information
Location Wells, Somerset
AddressSilver Street
Coordinates 51°12′21″N2°38′37″W / 51.2059°N 2.6435°W / 51.2059; -2.6435
Completed15th century

The Bishop's Barn in Silver Street, Wells, Somerset, England, was built as a tithe barn in the 15th century. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building, [1] and scheduled as an ancient monument. [2]

It was built of local stone roughly squared, with Doulting ashlar dressings and a Westmorland slate roof. [1] The barn has 12 bays with a cruck roof with double collar beams and arched wind braces. [3]

Royalist troops were quartered in the barn during the Bloody Assizes. [4] It 1887 the barn was given to the City of Wells by Bishop Lord Arthur Hervey for recreation and amusement. [5]

During the 1970s the barn was used as a music venue, and hosted bands such as Supertramp, Status Quo and Slade, with audiences of up to 1,500. [6] These bands were promoted at the venue by local Wells teenagers Gordon Poole and Tony Leach. It is now managed by the Wells Recreation Ground Trust. [7] The barn and adjacent recreation ground can be booked for events. [8]

In 2014 the Wells Recreation Ground Trust commissioned architects to survey the buildings and develop options for its repair and future use in conjunction with the Somerset Buildings Preservation Trust. [9] [10] [11] The advisory group identified a plan for improvements to the barn, including the installation of central heating and repairs to the walls and roof, estimated to cost at least £400,000 over five years. [12] [13]

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References

  1. 1 2 Historic England. "The Bishop's Barn (1383158)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 4 March 2009.
  2. ↑ Historic England. "Bishop's tithe barn (1003247)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  3. ↑ "The Bishop's Barn - Wells". Ken's Great Barns. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  4. ↑ Bush, Robin (1994). Somerset: The complete guide. Wimborne, Dorset: Dovecote Press. pp.  221. ISBN   1-874336-26-1.
  5. ↑ "About the Barn". Wells Recreation GroundWells Recreation Ground and Bishop's Barn. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  6. ↑ "'The Who, Supertramp and Status Quo all played at the Bishop's Barn in Wells'". Wells Journal . 24 October 2015. Archived from the original on 25 October 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  7. ↑ "Wells residents given chance to join Bishop's Barn and Rec trust". Wells Journal. 1 July 2014. Archived from the original on 26 November 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  8. ↑ "Hiring the Bishop's barn and Wells Recreation Ground". Mendip District Council. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  9. ↑ "Wells Recreation Ground and Bishops Barn". Mendip District Council. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  10. ↑ "£33,000 spent on Wells Bishop's Barn advice, options appraisal and legal fees". Somerset Live. Wells Journal. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  11. ↑ "Bishops Barn, Wells". Somerset Building Preservation Trust. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  12. ↑ "Mendip District Council to remain sole trustee of Wells Bishop's Barn as advisory group is dissolved". Somerset Lives. Wells Journal. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  13. ↑ "Repairs to Bishop's Barn in Wells could cost millions". BBC. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
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