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Pictures of Bishop's Palace, Wellsa Historic Building in the town of Wells, in the county of Somerset
About Bishop's Palace, Wells
The building has been the home of the Bishop's of Bath and Wells for over 800 years. It was constructed around 1285, when the waters of St.Andrew's Spring were used to create a wide moat surrounding the wall with its four corner towers. The entrance to the palace was guarded by a fortified gatehouse made of two octagonal towers. In the 1550's one Bishop sold the lead from the towers and these buildings are partially ruined. New buildings were added later to make the palace habitable again. Visitors to the palace are able to see mute swans gliding across the moat to ring a bell for food, also available to see is the Bishop's private Chapel, the ruined Great Hall, the Gatehouse with portcullis and drawbridge, plus 14 acres of magnificent gardens containing springs from which the city takes its name. The gardens provide a home for wildlife, and beside the mute swans, ducks and other species can be spotted. There is also a pretty " well house" of 1541 and an arboretum planted in 1977 to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. As you can imagine the gardens are extremely tranquil, providing a lovely spot for peaceful reflection or a tranquil place to enjoy a picnic. In the palace there is an exhibition gallery with changing exhibitions of art, glass, sculpture, spinning, weaving, woodcarving and embroidery, some of which is the work of local artists. There is also a Palace shop for the purchase of souvenirs and plants grown in the Bishop's garden. Of all the stunning medieval buildings of Wells, the Bishop's Palace is singularly beautiful, it is easy to see just why the great architectural historian Nicholas Pevsner described it as "the most memorable of all Bishop's Palace's in England" for that is justifiably so. Please see below for other recommended attractions and towns to visit near Bishop's Palace, Wells. Planning a visit? Please help support this website by booking your hotels near Bishop's Palace, Wells and uploading your pictures. Distances and directions shown below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner Recommended attractions near Bishop's Palace, Wells
All attractions in Somerset Complete A to Z of attractions in England Recommended towns near Bishop's Palace, WellsWells, in the county of Somerset (0.1 miles, 0.1 km) Wookey, in the county of Somerset (2.0 miles, 3.2 km, direction W) Glastonbury, a Historic Market Town in the county of Somerset (5.4 miles, 8.7 km, direction SW) Cheddar, a Picturesque Village in the county of Somerset (7.6 miles, 12.2 km, direction NW) Langport, in the county of Somerset (14.3 miles, 23.1 km, direction SW) Burnham-on-Sea, in the county of Somerset (15.4 miles, 24.8 km, direction W) Stourton, in the county of Wiltshire (15.8 miles, 25.5 km, direction SE) Bridgwater, a Historic Market Town in the county of Somerset (16.7 miles, 26.8 km, direction W) Bath, in the county of Somerset (16.8 miles, 27.0 km, direction NE) Poyntington, in the county of Dorset (17.2 miles, 27.6 km, direction S) Complete A to Z of towns in England Nearby travel help
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