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Bishop's Palace today

Wales · Partial ruin

Bishop's Palace

Llys yr Esgob

Bishop's Palace is a medieval episcopal gateway and adjacent curtain wall now surviving as a roadside ruin. The surviving structure is dominated by a central arched gate flanked by two rounded drum towers, leading into a grassy inner area beyond the gate.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1350

Today

Partial ruin

As it stood in 1350

What Bishop's Palace looked like in its prime.

A squat fortified gatehouse built of irregular grey-brown rubble with a pointed arched central passage flanked by two broad, rounded drum towers. The curtain walls step out from the towers and rise to a broken parapet with corbels/machicolation traces; no roofs remain on the visible mass. Vegetation grows on the upper masonry and a street runs directly in front of the gate, with trees visible beyond the arch into a green inner space. The stone surface is weathered and coursed.

Its story

The story of Bishop's Palace.

The Bishop's Palace, Llys yr Esgob, also known as Llandaff Castle, Bishop's Castle or the Old Bishop's Palace, is the ruined residence of the bishops of Llandaff, a short distance south of Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff. The twin-towered gatehouse is one of the few structures still standing.

The surviving ruin is dominated by the central arched gate flanked by two rounded drum towers, with a stretch of adjacent curtain wall; beyond the gate lies a grassy inner area, the rest of the medieval palace now gone, leaving the gatehouse as a roadside ruin.

Step inside

7 places to explore in 1350.

The record describes 7 distinct spots at Bishop's Palace, including 3 interiors: vaulted gateway passage, view into the inner courtyard, top of a drum tower and parapet walk. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Exterior approach from the streetClose view of the gatehouse façadeVaulted gateway passageView into the inner courtyardTop of a drum tower and parapet walkBase of the curtain wallEastern wall face with vegetation

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Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Bishop's Palace.

Cardiff City Stadium, WalesStadiumCardiff City Stadium3 km awayMillennium Stadium, WalesStadiumMillennium Stadium3 km away

Questions about Bishop's Palace

What is the history of Bishop's Palace?

Bishop's Palace was built as a medieval residence and fortress for the bishops of Llandaff. It was a small fortified enclosure with curtain walls, towers and a gatehouse, containing timber buildings within its courtyard. It was later attacked and damaged during the rebellion of Owain Glyndŵr, abandoned by the bishops, and probably destroyed during the English Civil War.

What is inside Bishop's Palace?

Inside Bishop's Palace, the surviving features include a vaulted gateway passage, a view into the inner courtyard, and the top of a drum tower with a parapet walk. The original gatehouse also had a portcullis slot and a great oak door. Timber buildings once stood within the courtyard, but no sign of them remains.

Why was Bishop's Palace built, and what was it used for?

Bishop's Palace was built as the residence of the bishops of Llandaff and also served as a small medieval fortress. It stood within a rectangular enclosure protected by curtain walls, towers and a gatehouse. The palace later ceased to be a residence when the bishop of the period moved to Mathern Palace in Monmouthshire.

Where is Bishop's Palace?

Bishop's Palace is in Llandaff, a short distance south of Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff. It stands beside a street as a roadside ruin, with the gatehouse opening towards a grassy inner area. Llandaff is the administrative area associated with the palace.

When was Bishop's Palace built?

Bishop's Palace was built in the medieval period, with the supplied dates placing it in either the 13th or 14th century. Its architecture may date it to the time of William de Braose, who became Bishop of Llandaff in 1266, while its prime year is given as 1350.

Was Bishop's Palace ever attacked or besieged?

Bishop's Palace was attacked and damaged during the rebellion of Owain Glyndŵr in 1402–05. The material does not establish whether the palace held or fell during the attack. It was later abandoned by the bishop of the period, and was probably destroyed during the English Civil War.

What did Bishop's Palace look like in its prime?

In its prime, Bishop's Palace was a squat fortified gatehouse built of irregular grey-brown rubble. A pointed arched passage stood between two broad rounded drum towers, with curtain walls stepping out from them. The walls rose to a broken parapet with traces of corbels or machicolation, and the visible structure had no roofs.

Is Bishop's Palace still standing, or is it a ruin?

Bishop's Palace is a partial ruin, with the twin-towered gatehouse and part of the adjacent curtain wall still standing. The rest of the medieval palace has disappeared, leaving the gatehouse as a roadside ruin. The surviving gatehouse is one of the few remaining structures of the former palace.

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