Fingest Bishops Palace

In the civil parish of Wooburn.
In the historic county of Buckinghamshire (Modern Authority of Buckinghamshire, 1974 county of Buckinghamshire).

There was a palace in the grounds of the present Fingest Manor House. An 18th Century history of Fingest in the Browne-Willis manuscript, recording excavations on the site, says it was "of large extent". There was a palace in the grounds of the present Fingest Manor House. An C18 history of Fingest in the Browne-Willis manuscript, recording excavations on the site, says it was "of large extent". How large is uncertain as the term palace simply designated a dwelling for a bishop. Among the bishops who stayed at Fingest was Henry Burghersh, who came there in 1321. Some 20 years later he laid out a new park and was granted "free Warren" or hunting rights, in his Manor of Fingest. At the same time he was granted a licence to "impark 300 acres of land" enjoining the woodland which he already controlled. This was common land used by the villagers. Fuller, in his C17 church history speaks of their seeing "their own beef and mutton being turned into the bishop's venison". Enormous hardship resulted. It has been conjectured that there were around 60 families there in medieval times and the Tax Returns for 1341 state that because of the extension of the park, only 30 virgates of land (a little over 100 acres) had been left for the commoners.

This site has been described as a;
Palace.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Possible.
Nothing visible remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SU775910

Modern Map from Good for landscape form and features	Modern Map from Good for general location
Air Photo from	1st edition OS Map from

Sources of information, references and further reading

• Web site links
  • http://www.worldofthestrange.com/modules.php?name=Newsletters&op=ViewItems&vid=732
• Books
  • Thompson, M.W., 1998, Medieval bishops' houses in England and Wales (Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing) p179