| The Bishop's Barn | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Location within Somerset | |
| General information | |
| Location | Wells, Somerset |
| Address | Silver Street |
| Coordinates | 51°12′21″N2°38′37″W / 51.2059°N 2.6435°W |
| Completed | 15th 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]