When it was built in the late 12th century, the Bishop's Palace was one of the most important buildings in England.
Med najbolj znanimi škofi so bili: Robert Bloet, prvi minister Henrika I., Hugh of Avalon, graditelj katedrale kanoniziran kot St. Hugh Lincoln, Robert Grosseteste, intelektualec 13. stoletja, Henry Beaufort, politik globoko vpleten v "vojno rož" (Vojna med belo in rdečo rožo, Philip Repyngdon, kaplan Henrika IV.