Bishops Frome Bishops Palace

Has been described as a Possible Palace (Bishop)

There are uncertain remains

NameBishops Frome Bishops Palace
Alternative NamesCheyney Court
Historic CountryHerefordshire
Modern AuthorityHerefordshire
1974 AuthorityHereford and Worcester
Civil ParishBishops Frome

The Bishop of Hereford held the manor of Bishop's Frome at Domesday, one of 20 manors in Herefordshire. There was certainly a hall and associated buildings here suitable for accommodating a bishop's retinue, as Bishop Cantiloupe stayed here a few times between 1275-82, as did Bishop Swinfield (1283-1317). It was not used as a residence after the late C13. There is nothing visible left of this house. Site cannot be located but is probably near the church, as is the case with other episcopal palaces in Herefordshire. The place-name "Court Farm" in this area may be significant. (Herefordshire HER)

Gatehouse Comments

Thompson identifies this site with Cheyney Court (SO66934770) where a C16/C17 barn is said to have been used as a chapel but the SMR puts the palace site near the church. However, the SMR record for Cheyney Court (7424) does suggest this was a high status site and it must be considered a possible location of the bishops palace, although no other author appear to have made the same link as Thompson. Map reference for parish church.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSO664483
Latitude52.1321105957031
Longitude-2.49340009689331
Eastings366400
Northings248300
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Shoesmith, Ron, 2009 (Rev edn.), Castles and Moated Sites of Herefordshire (Logaston Press) p. 55-6
  • Emery, Anthony, 2000, Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales Vol. 2 East Anglia, Central England and Wales (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) p. 513
  • Thompson, M.W., 1998, Medieval bishops' houses in England and Wales (Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing) p. 177
  • RCHME, 1932, An inventory of the historical monuments in Herefordshire Vol. 2: east p. 11 no. 3 (Cheyney Court Barn) online transcription
  • Gould, I. Chalkley, 1908, in Page, Wm (ed), VCH Herefordshire Vol. 1 p. 256
  • Robinson, C.J., 1872, A History of the Mansions and Manors of Herefordshire (Logaston Press, 2001 reprint) p. 24-7

Journals

  • Tonkin, J.W., 1976, 'The palaces of the bishop of Hereford' Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club Vol. 42.1 p. 53-64

Other

  • Payne, Naomi, 2003, The medieval residences of the bishops of Bath and Wells, and Salisbury (PhD Thesis University of Bristol) Appendix B: List of Medieval Bishop's Palaces in England and Wales (available via EThOS)