'informative, authoritative and highly recommended reading for students of British medieval architecture, history, culture and literature.' Midwest Book Review 'shows an impressive breadth of scholarship' Country Life '...an excellent study of the see palaces, London houses, and manor castles and houses of the twenty-one bishoprics.' Northern History, Vol. XXXV '...a very useful series of essays on types of episcopal residences...supplemented by appendices including a working list of houses, and generously illustrated with plans and views. As a survey...it will be widely welcomed, and it goes beyond description in relating the buildings to their social and cultural context....' English Historical Review '...a fine and very useful book, copiously illustrated, which collects sparse information...and stimulates reflection....' Medieval Archaeology, No. 43 '...a wonderfully old-fashioned compendium of information about a subject never before treated synoptically....' Church History, Vol. 68, No. 4 ’ We are indebted to Michael Thompson for delivering, over the last ten years, important books on the origin and decline of the castle; he now follows up his study of the hall in medieval society by a general account of medieval episcopal houses.’ The Antiquaries Journal.