NHER 26035 (Building record) - Bishop's Palace, The Close

February 1954. Listed, Grade I.
Former Bishop's Palace, now school. 11th century onwards.
1858 to 59. Restorations by Ewan Christian. Flint with brick and stone dressigns. Horizontal brick bands. Plain and pantile roofs. Large L-plan north of the Cathedral and originally connected to it. Three and four storeys above 11th century barrel vaulting. West façade: refaced in 1858 to 59.
See (S1) for the complete listing details.

It has a small keep at the end away from the cathedral, partly buried in later building. Dated 1104 to 8.
Fortified for personal security.
E.B. Green (NCM).

East wing: eight bay undercroft of quadripartite vaulting beneath the hall range east of the kitchen. The ribs spring from the central piers. (S2).
R. Smith 1990

Reverend Armstrong's Diary for 14 December 1860 says that the Bishops Palace has been 'transformed into a fairy Gothic palace' with new entry, library and dining room.
E. Rose (NLA). 20 August 1997.

The palace was used as a hospital in World War I (S3) (S6), and in World War II air raid shelters were dug under what is now the school playground (S3).
E. Rose (NLA), 26 January 2001.

(S4) states that beneath the castle abovementioned there is a small motte, probably pre-dating it, which is evidenced by the change in ground levels.
E. Rose (NLA), 15 February 2006.

July 2008. Chimney Survey.
Survey revealed that the chimney stack was spalling badly and there were cracks within the bricks and joining. It is proposed that the chimney stack will be demolished and rebuilt in a faithful reproduction of the existing chimney.
See (S5) for further information.