Bishops Palace Walls And Tower

The Bishop's Palace walls and tower, located on the south side of Palace Place in Paignton, are likely from the 14th century. Constructed from local red breccia, the tower is topped with a lead roof. The tall walls enclose the precinct, which now includes the vicarage and its gardens. An internal corner tower is situated at the southeast corner of the enclosure.

The exterior features tall walls with coped merlons, embrasures, some slits, and pudlock holes. The four-stage tapering tower has an embattled parapet above a moulded string course. On the Bishop's Place side, there is a small two-centred doorway, while the first stage of the tower contains a two-light window with ogival heads. The second-floor window features two trefoil-headed lights beneath a blind plate, with similar windows on other sides. The west face, visible from the vicar's garden, has another two-centred doorway.

Inside, all floors and the staircase appear to be from the 20th century. Segmental-arched joists support a lead-covered roof. Historically, the Bishop's Palace was transferred from Bishop Veysey to Sir Thomas Speke in 1549. In the 19th century, it was owned by Colonel Ridgway, who uncovered the foundations of old buildings, revealing numerous coins and other interesting artifacts during the excavation. The site within the enclosure holds significant archaeological interest.