Lamphey Bishop's Palace

A bishop’s tipple

Life couldn’t have been that hard for the medieval bishops of St Davids. These worldly, wealthy, influential men enjoyed their home comforts — as you’ll see when you wander around Lamphey’s palatial grounds, mainly the work of the dynamic Henry de Gower, bishop of St Davids from 1328 to 1347.

The bishops used Lamphey as a country retreat, an escape from the burdens of Church and State. Although just a short distance from St Davids itself, it was a million miles away from the simple, strict life led by austere ‘Dewi the Waterdrinker’, St David, patron saint of Wales, who lived many centuries earlier.

The medieval prelates would have led the privileged lives of country gentlemen, enjoying the luxuries of private accommodation, a grand great hall, first-floor chamber, fishponds, fruit orchards, vegetable gardens and 144-acre/58ha park.