Lamphey Bishop's Palace
Lamphey Bishop's Palace or Lamphey Palace is a ruined medieval building complex in Lamphey, Pembrokeshire and is a scheduled ancient monument which has had Grade I Listed building designation since May 1970. In the past, it has also been known as Lamphey Court.[1]
| Lamphey Bishop's Palace | |
|---|---|
 Part of the ruins in 2006 | |
| |
| General information | |
| Status | ruined |
| Type | medieval palace |
| Location | Lamphey |
| Address | SA71 5NT |
| Town or city | Lamphey, Pembrokeshire |
| Country | Wales |
| Coordinates | 51.67176°N 4.86704°W |
| Elevation | approx. 12m |
| Owner | Cadw |
| Website | |
| http://cadw.gov.wales/daysout/lampheybishopspalace/?lang=en | |
History
Whilst early thirteenth-century fragments from the old hall still exist,[1] the palace, including the 25 metres (82 ft) great hall, was largely constructed under Bishop Henry de Gower, Bishop of St David's (1328–1347) and was used by high-ranking clergy.[2] The palace was built in three stages and originally had over 20 rooms and featured fishponds, orchards, fruit and herb gardens and areas of parkland with grazing deer.[3][4]
The palace was surrendered to the crown in 1546 during the reign Henry VIII and granted to Richard Devereux and subsequently the Earls of Essex.[1] Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex lived in the palace as a child.[5] The palace was sold to the Owens of Orielton in 1683, possibly due to damage in the English Civil War. The buildings were possibly used for farm purposes in this era.[1]
Gallery
Engraving from 1774
Engraving from 1815
Engraving from circa 1830
The undercroft