Bishop's Palace, Peterborough
| Bishop’s Palace | |
|
Northamptonshire | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type: | Bishop's palace |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TL19349857 |
| Location: | 52°34’19"N, 0°14’26"W |
| City: | Peterborough |
| History | |
| Built 14th century | |
| Bishop's palace | |
| Information | |
The Bishop’s Palace stands by Peterborough Cathedral, in the centre of Peterborough, Northamptonshire. It was built in the 14th century as the house of the Abbot of Peterborough Abbey, and after the Dissolution of the Monasteries became a home for the Bishop of the new Diocese of Peterborough.
The palace is a Grade I listed building.[1] The building today is mainly in the Victorian Gothic style, but retains the work of earlier ages. Its undercrofts are from the 13th century.
History
The original building was the Abbot's House of Peterborough Abbey. In 1539, as part of the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the Abbey was dissolved, but the last Abbot, John Chambers, was left in place as guardian of the former Abbey's properties until in 1541 the new Diocese of Peterborough was created, with Chambers as its bishop. He retained the Abbey House, to be his episcopal palace.
The present building is mainly in the Victorian Gothic style. Nevertheless, features remain from previous ages, Two mid-13th century undercrofts survive. The solar wing at right angle to the Hall wing has two late perpendicular Gothic oriel windows facing north, one with the rebus of Abbot Kirkton, the room being known as Heaven's Gate Chamber. A triple shaft on a corbel has been dated to the late 12th century, and identified as having been part of the monks' kitchen.[1]
Reference
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 National Heritage List 1331518: Bishop's Palace (Grade I listing)
- The Bishop’s Palace in Peterborough: An ancient survival that’s patchwork of periods, materials and textures: Country Life 10 December 2019