Episcopal Palace, Including Gatehouse And Attached Ranges And Wall

Episcopal Palace, including gatehouse, attached ranges and boundary wall, Hereford

This group of buildings comprises an episcopal palace, gatehouse, attached range (housing Chauffeur's, Gardener's and North Lodging Cottages), former stables, chapel and boundary wall fronting Gwynne Street. The complex dates from the 12th to 17th centuries, with substantial alterations and additions in the 18th and 19th centuries, including a chapel built in 1798 and a stable block of 1841 designed by Philip Hardwick.

The main palace is constructed in brick with some ashlar and timber-framing, beneath various slate roofs with brick and ashlar chimneys. The main front is two storeys tall and comprises a five-window range with 9/9 sash windows under gauged brick flat arches. A 20th-century glazed door to the left is accompanied by a 19th-century ornamental overlight beneath a simple porch. To the left are one and to the right three further 9/9 sashes under gauged brick flat arches, with a stone band running across. The main range encases a late 12th-century aisled hall, probably originally of five bays, which retains much of its original roof. To the north, a brick service range has been converted into cottages, connected to the main range by a link block that was refronted by Hardwick and now serves as Diocesan offices.

The gatehouse displays 17th-century timber-framing above four-centred arches. The former stables to the west have been adapted for use as a dwelling, storage and garages. They are built of coursed stone beneath a plain-tile roof with decorative ridge and louvres. The composition features a recessed centre with two projecting gables facing the main range. The gables contain twin ogee lights with stone-moulded architrave windows, while the central section features a four-centred arch with heraldic shields above. The boundary wall extends approximately 50 metres to the south-west and south, constructed of coursed rubble.

The interior of the main palace contains a 19th-century dogleg staircase with turned balusters. In the attic, the 12th-century roof displays arch bracing and traces of painting with foliate capitals. The first floor includes plasterwork ceilings with panelled beam-cases, panelled shutters, 19th-century fireplaces, six-panel doors with architraves and cornices. The ground floor features six- and eight-panel doors, 18th and 19th-century fireplaces, shutters, cornices, three-panel doors, pelmets, panelled reveals, skirting, stained-glass overlights and shutters.

The chapel contains a plasterwork ceiling with fluted Corinthian pilasters. The hall is notable for its ornate plasterwork ceiling, fluted pilasters (concealing Norman pillars), "Norman" and "Tudor" doorways, a fireplace and a polychrome floor, with panelled reveals and shutters. The Archive Room contains a 19th-century winder stair with stick balusters. Above the entrance arch, a 19th-century fireplace is accompanied by two and four-panel doors, and the space displays exposed 17th-century or earlier timber-framing with arched windbraces with architraves and jowled posts.

Chauffeur's Cottage and North Lodging Cottage contain, on the first floor, a wide straight staircase, two-panel doors, exposed 17th-century or earlier square-panel framing, an 18th-century fireplace, panelling doors, chamfered stone fireplaces with oak lintels, massive stacks, and six- and four-panel doors, together with two four-centred arches. The ground floors feature heavily moulded ceiling beams, moulded plank doors, fireplaces with chamfered oak lintels (probable former ovens), masonry, exposed framing, half-glazed doors and panelling doors.

Gardener's Cottage contains, on the first floor, a straight staircase in two flights, four-panel doors, a plank door, chamfered ceiling beams, a chamfered doorway with worked lintel, architraves to doors and windows, a two-panel door and a plank door, with exposed framing. The ground floor features a chamfered ceiling beam, plank and panel doors, and exposed framing.

The boundary wall was separately listed on 22 October 1973.