TAS Kington Langley Visit to Shepton Mallet and The Bishops Palace, Wells

We had an enjoyable day on our first coach trip for some time. We also had a very accommodating coach driver who ferried us back and forth between the two venues.

We worked the day in two groups and after coffee we had our guided tour of The Bishops Palace in Wells just next to the Cathedral. We were told the history of the Palace, which began in 1206, -  designed, built, redesigned and enlarged through history. The Bishops of Bath and Wells were extremely important statesmen usually friends of the crown and so were able to add a chapel, a great hall and deer parks to the Palace over the years.

Inside we were able to enjoy the beautiful halls decorated for Christmas. The griffin staircase, the long hall set for Christmas lunch, the drawing room filled with trees and children’s toys through to the Coronation Room. The Bishop of Bath and Wells takes part in the coronations since an early bishop saved the monarch from tripping. We saw the Bishops Cope, the Pentecostal Cope and other artefacts linked to the Coronation of King Charles lll. Outside in the ruins of the great hall we were able to explore the gardens, see the water and wells that gave the city is name and purpose many centuries ago.

The Cathedral next door was based on Chartres Cathedral and is spectacularly beautiful and we also had time to look in the Vicars Close, a medieval street that housed the vicars of the cathedral.

Then back on the coach to visit Old Bowlish House, an Historic House owned by Ian and Amanda Keys.

Ian told us the history of the house from its early days as a farm producing woollen cloth through the development of the woollen cloth industry in Shepton Mallet. The house and the mills around it had always produced cloth that sold abroad but the influx of skilled Huguenot weavers allowed much finer cloth to be made. This was sold all over the world and Shepton Mallet was the centre of a worldwide trade. Refusing the install the Spinning Jenny and steam power meant this area fell behind other areas and jobs disappeared.

Eventually steam was introduced into the mills, mechanisation also helped as did the introduction of silk as a thread. Silk required fewer workers and so business was booming once again with the silk cloth being sold to Japan and China as well as other countries.

The house was refronted in the Georgian period to look like a mansion, various changes were made inside to give that Georgian balanced look. We heard readings from the different periods of the house, seasonal period music and we are able to sample seasonal foods and drinks as well.

We tried ‘an excellent boiled sallat’, a march pane biscuit and ‘My Lord of Carlisle’s Sack-Posset – recipes taken from 1615.This was followed by traditional mince pies – which included mince. However, with all the fruit and seasonings you couldn’t tell. Along with strong cheese and a glass of pinot noir this represented a Georgian Breakfast.

Finally, after a short talk by Richard, a Mayfair hairdresser, on the things that crept into and lived in wigs and putting on tiaras for royalty, we tried the Twelfth Night Cake. This had a crown and coronet on the icing -one half held a bean and the other held a pea. Whoever got those two surprises were King and Queen of Misrule and chaos could and did ensue.

We were able to see the magnificent staircase, the contemporary artwork and sculptures and into a number of rooms to see how the house had developed over the centuries.

We thank Ian and Amanda for their hospitality in welcoming us to their home for such a wonderful seasonal event.