The Bishop's Palace is a Grade I listed building in the Exeter local planning authority area, England. First listed on 15 January 1964. A Medieval origins with later additions and a major 1846-1848 rebuilding (explicitly C13, late C15, early C16 and 1846-1848) Palace. 8 related planning applications.

The Bishop's Palace

WRENN ID
second-paling-plover
Grade
I
Local Planning Authority
Exeter
Constituency
Exeter MP: Steve Race (Lab)
Country
England
Date first listed
15 January 1964
Type
Palace
Period
Medieval origins with later additions and a major 1846-1848 rebuilding (explicitly C13, late C15, early C16 and 1846-1848)
Address
The Bishop's Palace, Palace Gate, EX1 1HY
OS grid reference
SX 921 925
Coordinates
50.72213, -3.5293
Source
Historic England listing

Also on this page: sale history · EPC · related consents · flood risk · radon risk · weather exposure · detailed attributes ↓

Description

The Bishop’s Palace retains portions dating back to the 13th century, with the initial structure serving as the Great Hall. A lower section of the entrance tower and a notable internal arch from this period remain. There is also a 13th-century chapel, which was restored by William Butterfield. A late 15th-century mantelpiece, known as the "Courtenay" mantelpiece, is present, although it has been relocated. Significant demolitions and alterations occurred over time, culminating in a near total rebuilding between 1846 and 1848, undertaken by Ewan Christian. The palace is constructed of Heavitree stone. It is three storeys high, featuring mullioned windows, and has a slate roof. An early 16th-century oriel window, originally from a demolished house in the city, has been incorporated into the building. The listed buildings along Palace Gate form a group.

Local climate

The Bishop's Palace receives an average of 840 mm of rain a year. This makes it wetter than 57% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is greater than that of 72% of listed buildings.

It experiences an average of 19 freeze-thaw cycles a year, fewer than 80% of listed buildings. Of these, 7 follow at least 1 mm of rain in the preceding 48 hours. Average temperatures at this location have risen by 0.3°C per decade since 1991.

Averages for 1991–2020; temperature trend 1991–2025. Figures describe the wider area (a grid cell of roughly 10 km), not the individual site. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026.

More on this building

Sign in or create a free account to unlock:

  • Full EPC report — heating system, energy costs, size, glazing, construction etc.
  • Sale history — 4 transactions since 1998
  • Related listed building consents — 8 applications
  • Detailed attributes — period, style, materials, features
  • Flood risk assessment
  • Radon risk assessment
  • Weather exposure and heating demand — rain and frost month by month and year by year, wind direction, solar and humidity
Create free account

Matched applications, energy data and sale records are assembled automatically and may contain errors. Flag incorrect data.

Similar buildings

The closest matches to this building from all 493,000 UK listed buildings, by architecture, period and materials.

Nearby listed buildings

  1. Cathedral Church of St Peter Grade I 55 m
  2. Palace Wall Fronting Palace Gate Grade II 59 m
  3. 15 and 15a, Cathedral Close Grade II* 66 m
  4. Wall of the Chantry Grade II 70 m
  5. Wall of No 15 Grade II 73 m
  6. Church House Grade II* 79 m
  7. Gatehouse to Bishop's Palace Grade I 82 m
  8. 10, Cathedral Close Grade I 85 m
  9. Entrance Gate to Southernhay Grade II 86 m
  10. 12 and 13, Cathedral Close Grade II 87 m