1469

 

II*  

Designated  

16/11/1962  

24/11/1987  

The Old Palace  

 

Denbighshire  

St. Asaph  

 

 

303731  

374211  

 

Situated below the Cathedral to E on sloping site. Reached by drive near the bottom of the High Street; wooded grounds to W  

Religious, Ritual and Funerary  

 

Built by Bishop Bagot in 1791 probably on an earlier palace dated 1634 or possibly to succeed Esgobty farmhouse as the Bishopric. Design attributed to Samuel Wyatt (of Bodorgan House, Anglesey). Enlarged to W for Bishop Carey 1830-1 by the London architect Edward Blore; modern additions by Brian Vaughan 1977-8.  

Simplified Jacobethan 6-bay main (W) front with asymmetrical fenestration and rock faced masonry with red sandstone dressings. 3-storey, with attic to gabled advanced end bays; gable parapets, ground floor stringcourse and plinth. 2nd floor slightly set back to bays with central chimney breast. Tudor hoodmoulds to windows, mainly 2-light sashes, 4 and 5 light windows to outer bays; tall twin transomed heavily leaded windows flank central entrance with gable and finial over containing Bishop Carey's coat of arms. 4-window n front, half blore, half wyatt with coresponding differences of material and detail. Fine 9-bay 2-storey ashlar garden (E) front with cill band, plinth and 3-bay central bow with shallow domed roof. Hipped slate roof, parapet and coved cornice with chimney stacks and gables of main front rising behind. Blind panels between floors; central panel over entrance has Bishop Bagot's coat of arms and dated 1791; bracket cornice over panelled doors. Small pane sash windows, 9-pane to 1st floor and 15-pane to ground floor. Modern brick range (not of special interest) adjoins to rendered s side which retains 1 sash window. stone plaque by entrance dated 1634 relating to the time of Bishop John Owen.  

Interior retains tall square entrance hall with gothic detail to T-plan staircase and tripartite landing screen. E range has adamesque cornice with arabesques to central rose, panelled shutters, dado rail and Wyatt fireplace with swags. Bow window to saloon with fluted architraves to doors. Stone flagged, brick groin vaulted cellars with one barrel vaulted chamber.  

Group value with lodge, Tithe Barn House and Palace Gardens.