The Bishop’s Palace
In the 15th century repairs were becoming too much for the ageing structure, and it was decided to create
a new building, starting in 1478 under Bishop Morton.of Ely, later to become Archibishop of
Canterbury and Chancellor of England .
His successor, Bishop Alcock, extended and completed the re-building and died in the Castle in 1500. Later Bishops also spent considerable sums on the new palace.
The engraving here is of Buckden Palace reproduced courtesy of the Friends of Buckden Towers
We know that the Bishop's Palace was built of brick with dressings of Ketton Stone, but it's exact footprint and layout is unknown. During this time, Bishops were building palaces in this new material and it is possible that The Bishop of Lincoln's Palace at Buckden was very similar to the one at Wisbech
In 1580, it was decreed by the Privy Council that Roman Catholic recusants should be held at Wisbech Castle. For over thirty years many important prisoners were held in Wisbech, including John Feckenham the last Abbot of Westminster who died at Wisbech in 1585. There were two factions amongst the Roman Catholics who created what was to become know as 'The Wisbech Stirs'
Other leading Roman Catholics were imprisoned for political reasons, at the time of the Armada, Robert Catesby and Francis Tresham were held at Wisbech. They were later to become the principal conspirators in the 'Gunpowder Plot'.
During the brief reign of Lady Jane Grey, Robert Dudley made Wisbech his headquarters while trying to win over the town of
.
Recent archaeology has discovered brick structures in the existing garden and beneath the extensive vaults.
Confirmation and details of their findings are eagerly awaited.
Fragments of stained glass which are thought to be from the chapel of the Bishop's Palace have been incorporated into a door in the present building.
