This old wall, constructed more for its symbolic impact than for sheer protection, serves as a reminder of an era when Bishops faced tangible threats from adversaries.
During centuries past, the Bishops of England were not merely spiritual leaders; they were also warriors, closely associated with the ruling monarch and the enforcement of law.
To assert their authority and safeguard against potential intrusions, Bishops erected stone and brick statements of power with fortified with high walls, such as those seen at Hampton Court for Cardinal Wolsey and Wells Palace in Somerset with its moat, each with its own distinct look, but those ‘Keep Out’ signs the same.
Behind these displays of power, I’m sure they all still kept a sharpened dagger to hand.
Chichester Cathedral