wells bishop palace accompanying wells english county somerset adjacent home wells years designated english_heritage grade listed building building palace started wells chapel great hall added walls gatehouse moat added 14th century added 15th century great hall later fell disrepair partially demolished palace originally surrounded medieval deer park walls built streams diverted form moat reservoir 1820s grounds walls planted laid pleasure grounds bishop george law created reflecting pond near springs parts buildings residence current bishop palace public functions tourist attraction history construction began wells principally dates continued cathedral building campaign begun responsible building bishop palace school grammar school hospital travellers chapel liberty cathedral built manor house near wells chapel great hall built bishop windows stone stone bosses supporting ribs meet ceiling covered representations oak leaves green man building seen fine example early english architectural style 14th century continued building uneasy relationship citizens wells partly taxes surrounded palace walls moat metres high storey gatehouse dates bridge moat entrance protected heavy gate operated machinery entrance defenders pour attacker operational closed word received palace bishop bristol subject arson attack bristol riots took place house_of_lords rejected second reform bill proposal aimed rid rotten britain fast growing industrial towns bristol manchester birmingham leeds greater representation house_of_commons rioting wells water filled moat flowed springs grounds previously chosen course small stream separating cathedral palace causing ground site moat acted reservoir controlled gates powered town north wing bishop house added 15th century modifications 18th century restored divided upper storey added following dissolution monasteries sold 1st duke somerset palace grounds recovered duke execution sold lead roofs great hall resulted falling ruined state seen largely demolished bishop law created picturesque ruin removing south east walls laying planting area previously occupied great hall palace garrison troops english civil war rebellion prison rebels killed great storm chimney palace fell wife asleep bed central porch added 1840s 1850s restored palace added upper storey restored chapel stained glass ruined french churches designated grade listed building february poet united_kingdom commissioned bbc west television programme inside west write poem honour entitled acts harry patch read special event introduced received surviving chairs display palace britain description brought rome produced monk treasurer abbey arthur perished hanged drawn alongside master abbot dissolution monasteries abbot sat chair type trial chairs age later seen current use palace belongs managed run main palace open public including medieval vaulted chapel long gallery residence offices café overlooking lawn palace licensed weddings conferences meetings lawn palace regular basis palace location scenes british comedy hot recently film december announced wells days earlier announced new bishop work live palace later announced instead live temporarily old miles away decision proved controversial formally objected commissioners decision matter referred committee decided house suitable house bishop remain living palace architecture lies liberty andrew cathedral vicar close residences offices clergy serve cathedral palace accessible adjacent market place known gatehouse walled bishop eye built storey building stone copper roof designated grade listed building bishop eye forms pair gateway cathedral market place built time similar style palace storey building seven bays alternating bays supported buttresses attic beneath octagonal chimney interior laid hall solar gallery floors 16th century stone fireplace right building chapel early decorated gothic style late 13th century built local stone remains 13th century great hall north wall column bases internal arcade indicating hall tall windows decorated gothic style consists narrow ranges narrow courtyard building south arrangement rooms inside changed times years includes features 15th century including doorway oak screens windows include remnants 16th century stained glass grounds grounds palace 13th century included medieval deer park right form park granted king john bishop palace planted kitchen gardens provide food bishop staff acres gardens including city takes spring supplies andrew water flows rate imperial gallons second moat holds million imperial gallons water emerging spring originates cave system including lane house built provide water citizens wells market place small stone building slate roof central hole stone floor giving access gardens listed grade gardens special historic interest england grounds included built barn 15th century area public park play area barn built local stone roughly squared slate roof royalist troops barn existing landscaping south lawn carried 1820s included incorporation remains great hall construction raised inside wall accessible towers bishop law created display fossils estate range shrubs planted including black lebanon cedar 1830s pool created springs acts mirror day providing reflections east end cathedral water outer garden planted bishop commemorate silver jubilee elizabeth_ii mute moat trained ring bells pulling strings food trained daughters 1870s given bishop queen elizabeth_ii able ring lunch fed live gatehouse august bank holiday moat wells moat boat race charity race organised bishop entered race tree heaven south lawn planted blown storm
Bishop's Palace, Wells