Wells - The Bishop's Palace

The Bishop's Palace was built in the early 13th century and stands alongside the Cathedral. 

The palace is the official residency of the Bishop of Bath & Wells - remember that Wells with its Cathedral was a far more significant town than Bath back in medieval times.

The site chosen incorporates the "wells" from which this city derives its name - you can see these if you tour the palace grounds. They produce about 40 gallons ( 100 litres ) per second !

The Bishop's Palace is protected by the palace gatehouse and its drawbridge, fortified walls and the substantial surrounding moat.

Palace gatehouse             Feed the birds in the moat

Today the moat is home to many wild fowl and come spring you will see their various offspring paddling around. The moat also has some  mute swans who have learnt to "ring" a bell suspended from the palace gatehouse to request feeding !

   Moat and turret

Whilst the Great Hall is now only walled ruins there remains much to be seen inside the palace grounds.

Three sides of the moat can be walked externally and there are plenty of benches to sit  upon, linger and watch the world go by. 

For visitors with young children there is a childrens playground close by, follow the path around the moat.

The Bishop's Palace is open to the public from Easter to the end of October - but note that it is closed on Mondays, except in August when it is open each day. There is a cafe within the Palace grounds during opening hours.

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