Balsham Manor of the bishop of Ely

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Nine Chimneys House

In the civil parish of Balsham. In the historic county of Cambridgeshire (Modern Authority of Cambridgeshire, 1974 county of Cambridgeshire).

Favoured residential manor of the medieval bishops of Ely.
A manor-house in Balsham, sometimes called Balsham Hall, was recorded in 1356, when its buildings were said to be ruinous. In 1357 it had a main chamber with others adjoining, chapel, room for the steward, various offices, gatehouse, stables, granary, and other farm buildings, almost all in need of repair. In C14 Bishop Arundel visited Balsham less frequently than some other manors; his presence there is recorded only three times, but it was a target for the rebels of 1381 who broke in, burned muniments, and damaged the buildings. (VCH)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TL584510

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 County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 10835 '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.

• Books
  • Emery, Anthony, 2000, Greater Medieval Houses Vol2 (Cambridge) p154
    Thompson, M.W., 1998, Medieval bishops' houses in England and Wales (Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing) p176
    Wright, A.P.M. (ed), 1978, VCH Cambridge and the Isle of Ely Vol6 p129 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=66714 (manorial history)
• Other sources, 'grey' literature, unpublished works, etc.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 ]