More information : (SU 14392940) Bishop's Palace (NR) (School) (1) The Bishop's Palace grew from the first bishops' residence which was established by 1219. The original building was added to and altered by succeeding bishops (2) between the 15th/18th C's (3), the most striking feature being a late 15th/early 16th C tower and turret. Part of the original building survives in the vaulted undercroft, restored in 1889. In 1947 the palace became the Cathedral School (2). Gd 1 MHLG. (2,3) 1594 THE CLOSE Cathedral School (formerly listed as Bishop's Palace) SU 1429 SW 5/58 28.2.52 I GV 2. Very fine picturesque complex, consisting in part of Bishop Beauchamp's and his successors circa 1460-1500 and in part Bishop Seth Ward's of 1670-4 with late C18 and C19 alterations. Irregular building of flint and stone and ashlar, some crenellation. Old tile roofs. The north and entrance front is mainly of the middle C15, with the original Palace buildings on the West side, then dating from early C13, with the Great Hall on the 1st floor and running north and south. This room later altered to a drawing room in C18, with a large Palladian window at each end and in the middle of the west side. The middle portion of the building contains the former dining hall, later entrance hall with chapel above; and to the east the square entrance Tower and later Great Hall behind it, probably built between 1450-80. On the south side considerable additions of a plain character were made in the late C18, but there is also work of the C17 and early C18. Interior: an important undercroft, 6 bays with 2 short round piers carrying circular abaci the heavy single chamfered arches and ribs. The drawing room replacing the Great Hall dates from the time of Bishop Sherlock circa 1740. Stucco garlanded frieze with heads, coved ceiling, centre panel decorated with eagle. The Venetian windows of this room have Corinthian columns. The chapel C15 (buttress visible on north front) has straight headed windows, moulded beams to ceiling. Jacobean stalls and communion rails with flat open work balusters, and screen. Grand staircase installed by Seth Ward rising in 2 flights and returning one repeated for 2nd floor. Turned balusters, solid string. The building forms a unique group with the Cathedral. All the listed buildings in the Close form an outstanding group.
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