Lawhitton Bishops Palace

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Sherr's Barton; The White House

In the civil parish of Lawhitton Rural. In the historic county of Cornwall (Modern Authority of Cornwall, 1974 county of Cornwall).

Site of medieval residential manor of Bishops of Exeter, small and infrequently used, occupied by late C18 house.
A residence was built in Lawhitton near Launceston circa 1106, to serve the bishops when they visited this part of Cornwall (Peter). Sheers Barton. An irregular structure with Medieval core, much altered in C18 (DOE (HHR) Launceston RD Jan 1960 5). (PastScape)
According to Images of England there are a few medieval features in the house, but not in situ. Some of the masonry may be medieval but too altered to suggest a floor plan.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SX354823

Air Photo from Air Photo and general mapping	1st edition OS Map from Mid to late 19th century maps
Modern Map from Landscape form and features	Modern Map from General location and route planning
Geograph British Isles occasionally has photos of the site and will usually give an idea of the surrounding landscape.

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 437052
Further information may be available from the holder of the county Historic Environment Record. In particular 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website, or elsewhere.

• Books
  • Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses Vol3 (Cambridge) p549-51
    Thompson, M.W., 1998, Medieval bishops' houses in England and Wales (Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing) p177
    Elliott-Binns, L.E., 1955, Medieval Cornwall p302-5
    Peter, O.B., St Stephen Launceston p3
• Other sources, 'grey' literature, unpublished works, etc. (Theses, in-house reports and other such)
  • Payne, Naomi, 2003, The medieval residences of the bishops of Bath and Wells, and Salisbury (PhD Thesis University of Bristol) Appendix B: List of Medieval Bishop's Palaces in England and Wales [available via http://ethos.bl.uk ]