69 



existing bishop's palace on the south-west of the monastery were 

 then to be seen. Had Smith marked these, supposing they were 

 there in his time, we should know the exact site of the palace, 

 the " bishop's house " of King John's time. Possibly they were 

 removed under the Act of 1540, 32 Hen. VIII., cap. 18, for 

 re-edifying townes, which declared that in Bath, as well as other 

 cities named, houses had fallen down decayed and so " doo 

 "lye as desolate and vacante groundis, many replennyshed 

 " withe unclennes and filthe." After proclamation made they 

 were to be re-edified or repaired within three years; but here 

 re-building would not be likely, and the greater improvement 

 would be to remove altogether. 



On a further examination of the plan it is seen that although 

 the bridge is shown, the gate is omitted — the great gate with a 

 stone arch at the centre of the bridge ; recorded in 1273 as being 

 kept as a service for certain land and a tenement. 



Another peculiarity must be noticed, as this Smith's map 

 attempts to show the suburb southward over the bridge, this 

 being the more remarkable as not only does he so but he marks 

 a church just at the foot of Hollo way, at the corner on the left 

 turning towards Widcombe. What does this mean 1 Was there 

 ever a church here ? Going first to the dissolution documents and 

 the accounts of particulars for grants or for leases, there is found full 

 notice relating to the " cathedral " and the site of the Priory, and 

 the Grange, and le Hayes, and le Ham and pasture for three 

 hundred and twenty-two sheep called the hogflock. Then there 

 were pastures in Walcot and Barton ; and a pasture on Launce- 

 down with all commons ; and pasture for a flock of three hundred 

 and sixty ewes called the eweflock of Barton.* Selecting Wid- 

 combe more especially, there was the farm of the manor of 

 Widcombe and Lyncombe with the lands and feed called Bewchen- 

 clyff, or Beauchyncliff, or BychinclifF, or Beachynclyff"e, with Prior 



* Particulars for Leases, Ed. VI., sec. i. 



