Bishop’s Palace and Gardens

The Bishop’s Palace is the historic home of the Bishop of Bath and Wells. Located adjacent to the cathedral, it comprises the current Bishop private apartment, rooms that are open to the public and then there are the palace gardens. Within the palace gardens are water features that contain the wells or springs after which the city is named. The site of springs such as these have long been considered sacred sites and the location of veneration. Geologically the water arises here having passed through the limestone rocks of the Mendip Hills to the north and flowed through subterranean courses. Even today the amount of water ‘springing up’ in the ponds reflects the amount of rain that has fallen in the previous days. In a quiet corner of the gardens is the Garden of Reflection, a small wooded area with a white circular structure in it. This is the poustinia, a special place of silence and prayer.

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Wells Cathedral

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Reflections