Yatton Bishops Palace

Description

At Yatton too, the evidence for an episcopal manor house comes largely from the bishop's registers. Bishop Roger drew up a charter there in May 1246 and a document was dated there by William of Bitton I in 1262. There are twenty-eight entries in Bishop Drokensford's register dated at Yatton and Ralph of Shrewsbury appears to have been staying in Yatton for most of June 1332. One of the entries in his register during 1335 was dated "in the chamber of the bishop at Yatton." In July and August 1349, Shrewsbury appears to have been staying at Yatton continuously for at least four weeks, and there are many other entries signed at Yatton scattered through his register. This volume of register documents does appear to suggest that an episcopal manor house at Yatton was used to accommodate the bishops during the fourteenth century at least, no later, but possibly earlier. Immediately to the west of Saint Mary's church at Yatton is Court Farm and Collinson mentions "the old court or manor house, where large ruins of old buildings have been dug up.'" The listed building information for Court Farm suggests that the structure originated in the fifteenth century as a hall house. This structure may be a rebuild of an earlier manor house which had been in use during the fourteenth century. After the residential part was no longer needed, part could have been demolished, leaving a location in which to hold the manor court. (Payne)