Lanner Barton

Has been described as a Possible Palace (Bishop)

There are no visible remains

NameLanner Barton
Alternative NamesCastellum Lanner
Historic CountryCornwall
Modern AuthorityCornwall
1974 AuthorityCornwall
Civil ParishSt Allen

Residential manor of the Bishop of Exeter.

The barton of Lanner was purchased by the Bishops of Exeter in 1269 and was frequently visited in C14 and C15 Attached to this was a chapel which was first mentioned in 1321. (PastScape)

The Bishops of Exeter purchased Cargoll Manor in 1296; their manor house was at Lanner, where they were frequent visitors in the C14 and C15. The manor house must have been substantial, and possibly fortified, for in 1478 William of Worcester referred to 'Castellum Lanner -- in Villa Laner' - although it was also said to be dilapidated. The OS map of 1891 notes that Lanner is on the site of a barton. Warner notes William of Worcester's reference, but questions whether Worcester was in fact referring to a prehistoric earthwork - either 25192 or 25196. A chapel of St Martin at the Bishop of Exeter's manor house at Lanner is mentioned in 1314, 1317 and 1321 (see 25195.1, but it is uncertain where this chapel was located. (Cornwall & Scilly HER)

The Bishops of Exeter had, at an early period, a castle here, which William of Worcester speaks of as dilapidated in the reign of Edward IV. (Lysons)

Gatehouse Comments

1km south of parish church in area of dispersed settlement and associated with a deer park. Seems to be a country retreat and hunting lodge. Gatehouse also suspects that the 'castle' mentioned by William Worcester was a prehistoric earthwork with no medieval use. (A hunting lodge requires good supplies of water, mainly for the horses. Lanner Barton is on the spring line but both Prehistoric earthworks suggested in the Cornish HER are slightly above the spring line.)

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSW825497
Latitude50.3070106506348
Longitude-5.05530977249146
Eastings182500
Northings49700
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales Vol. 3 Southern England (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) p. 549-51
  • Thompson, M.W., 1998, Medieval bishops' houses in England and Wales (Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing) p. 177
  • Elliott-Binns, L.E., 1955, Medieval Cornwall p. 302-5
  • Polsue, J., 1867, A complete parochial history of the county of Cornwall (William Lake, Truro & John Camden Hotten, London) Vol. 1 p. 14 online copy
  • Lysons, D. and S., 1814, Magna Britannia Vol. 3 Cornwall p. 12 online transcription

Journals

  • Warner, R., 1964, 'St Allen Checklist' Cornish Archaeology Hendhyscans Kernow Vol. 3 p. 98 online copy
  • Henderson, C., 1953-6, 'Ecclesiastical History' Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall Vol. 2 p. 12

Primary Sources

  • Harvey, John (ed), 1969, Itineraries of William Worcestre (Oxford : Clarendon Press)

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)