Bishop's Palace, Exeter
| Bishop's Palace | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Bishop's Palace, Exeter, circa 1865 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| Location | Exeter, Devon |
| Country |  England |
| Coordinates | 50°43′19.560″N 3°31′45.408″W / 50.72210000°N 3.52928000°W5 |
| Year(s) built | Mostly 13th & 19th centuries |
| Owner | The 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]
History
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]
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
[edit].jpg)
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
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Cherry, Bridget; Pevsner, Nikolaus (1989). The buildings of England (2nd ed. extensively revised ed.). Harmondsworth: Penguin books. ISBN 978-0-14-071050-2.
- ^ a b c d e "THE BISHOP'S PALACE, Non Civil Parish - 1222943 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
- ^ a b c "Archaeology Data Service: The Bishop's Palace". archaeologydataservice.ac.uk. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
- ^ a b "Bishop's Palace Garden set to open for charity". South Hams Gazette. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ "Bishop's Palace | Devon Gardens Trust". www.devongardenstrust.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
- ^ "Inside the Bishop's Palace Garden at Exeter Cathedral". Great British Life. 2019-03-11. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
- ^ "Demolition Exeter: The Bishop's Palace, Palace Gate". Demolition Exeter. 2013-03-12. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
- ^ a b c d e "GATEHOUSE TO BISHOP'S PALACE, Non Civil Parish - 1222909 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "PALACE WALL FRONTING PALACE GATE, Non Civil Parish - 1222910 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
- ^ The National Archives, The National Archives. "The Discovery Service". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
- ^ a b "Library & Archives". Exeter Cathedral. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
- ^ "The Exeter Book". theexeterbook.exeter.ac.uk. Retrieved 2025-02-19.