Building record 10641/2 - Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary - Bishop's Palace

The Bishop’s Palace, formerly one part of the Abbot’s Lodgings (CHER 10640/6), appears to have been in relatively good condition (in contrast to other monastic buildings of the former abbey) at the time of the Dissolution, and continued to function as a residence within the precinct. Documentary evidence demonstrates that in the 1630s Bridgeman restored the palace, largely because of his increased residency there (7). The palace was damaged during the Interregnum. Bridgeman left the cathedral in 1645 and the building was sold in 1650. In 1651 the city corporation negotiated, unsuccessfully, to buy the palace, and eventually it was used as a county goal, as it adjoins the Magistrates Court at No. 3. By 1660 it was largely ruinous, however, repair work began immediately after the restoration, under Bishop Keene (7). The new building, complete by 1757, was only single-storey on the north side facing Abbey Court but had two storeys on the south, where the ground level was lower. The north entrance front was rusticated and separated from the rest of Abbey Court by a ditch. At both ends were two-storeyed ranges, that in the east being over an arched gateway opening onto St Werburgh’s Lane. The interior included two lofty and spacious rooms, a library, and a chapel. Work on the palace stimulated activity on the other sides of Abbey Court. Development throughout the precinct beginning in the mid-nineteenth century also affected the Bishop's palace; having been deserted by the bishop in 1865, it was largely demolished shortly after (7). The one part of the building to survive is the old chapel, which was restored as recently as 1920 as the chapel of St Anslem (7).

<1> Burne, R. V. H., 1958, Chester Cathedral: from its founding by Henry VIII to the accession of Queen Victoria (Book). SCH4878.

<2> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 470389 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

<3> Hicklin, John, 1850, Christian Monuments (Article in Journal). SCH5497.

<4> Rickman, Thomas, 1864, On the Architectural History of Chester Cathedral (Article in Journal). SCH5516.

<5> R.C.H., 1868, Notes on recent discoveries in Chester Cathedral (Article in Journal). SCH6529.

<6> Scott G.G, 1885, Architectural History of Chester Cathedral (Article in Journal). SCH6419.

<7> Lewis C.P & Thacker A.T. (eds), 2005, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume Vii, The City of Chester - The City of Chester, Culture, Buildings, Institutions (Book). SCH6522.