Bredon Bishops Manor

In the civil parish of Bredon. In the historic county of Worcestershire (Modern Authority of Worcestershire, 1974 county of Hereford and Worcester).

The Manor House is mainly 18th century, and part of an earlier, timber framed, building is incorporated in its northern side. It is not of outstanding architectural interest. (Field Investigators Comments–P 28-APR-66) Bredon mansion house, called Bishop's House, was in 1563 described as very ruinous and almost fallen down for want of repair. The manor was in the possession of the Bishops of Worcester from before 1086 until 1558-9 when it passed to the Crown (VCH). (PastScape)
Bredon manor had a great hall, at least six chambers, a chapel, kitchen, brewhouse, bakehouse, dresser (for meat preparation), and two stables. The farm buildings which lay to the south-west round a courtyyard included a granary, byre, stable, sheepcote, pigsty, poultry house, and dovecote, with a barn on the west side built by bishop Bransford which still stands. (Emery)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SO91923703

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 117881
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, 2000, Greater Medieval Houses Vol2 (Cambridge) p466
    Thompson, M.W., 1998, Medieval bishops' houses in England and Wales (Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing) p187
    Dyer, C., 1980, Lords and Peasants in a Changing Society: The Estates of the Bishopric of Worcester, 680-1540 (Cambridge University Press)
    Page, Wm and Willis-Bund, J.W. (eds), 1913, VCH Worcestershire Vol3 p282-3, 501 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43123
• Other sources, 'grey' literature, unpublished works, etc.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 ]