The Bishop's Palace has stood beside Wells Cathedral since the 13th century and is one of the finest surviving medieval palaces in England. The moat was added in the 14th century — allegedly to defend the bishop against the townspeople, who had fallen out with the Church over trading rights. The gatehouse, the chapel ruins, and the great hall (now roofless) are all essentially intact.
The gardens are extensive and beautifully kept. Springs well up in the grounds — these are the springs from which Wells takes its name — and their flow feeds the moat. In early summer the lawns are quiet enough to hear the water moving. The ruined great hall at the north end of the gardens gives the best sense of the palace's original scale.
The palace is open to visitors most days; the bishop still lives in the residential part of the building. Guided tours are available at certain times and worth joining for access to the private chapel.