The Bishop's Barn, Wells

The Bishop's Barn in Silver Street, Wells, Somerset, England, was built as a tithe barn in the 15th century. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building,[1] and scheduled as an ancient monument.[2]

The Bishop's Barn
Location within Somerset
General information
Location	Wells, Somerset
Address	Silver Street
Coordinates	51.2059°N 2.6435°W / 51.2059; -2.6435
Completed	15th century

It was built of local stone roughly squared, with Doulting ashlar dressings and a Westmorland slate roof.[1] The barn has 12 bays with a cruck roof with double collar beams and arched wind braces.[3]

Royalist troops were quartered in the barn during the Bloody Assizes.[4] It 1887 the barn was given to the City of Wells by Bishop Lord Arthur Hervey for recreation and amusement.[5]

During the 1970s the barn was used as a music venue, and hosted bands such as Supertramp, Status Quo and Slade, with audiences of up to 1,500.[6] These bands were promoted at the venue by local Wells teenagers Gordon Poole and Tony Leach. It is now managed by the Wells Recreation Ground Trust.[7] The barn and adjacent recreation ground can be booked for events.[8]

In 2014 the Wells Recreation Ground Trust commissioned architects to survey the buildings and develop options for its repair and future use in conjunction with the Somerset Buildings Preservation Trust.[9][10][11] The advisory group identified a plan for improvements to the barn, including the installation of central heating and repairs to the walls and roof, estimated to cost at least £400,000 over five years.[12][13]