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The mystery of the painted lady
TV archaeologist Mark Horton is on a mission for Inside Out - Monday 6 February, 7.30pm, 大象传媒 ONE West - to shed more light on an historical riddle which has set tongues wagging in Wells.
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Workmen have discovered a risqu茅 wall painting of a lady, hidden under the floorboards in the Bishop's Palace.
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The palace, which stands alongside Wells Cathedral, remains the family home of the Bishop of Bath and Wells.
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The exquisite painting was found three years ago by a plumber who was carrying out some work in the Virgin's Tower, in what used to be the throne room.
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But no-one is quite sure who it depicts. Some people think it could be a woman of ill repute, because of her low cut gown.
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The Bishop of Bath & Wells, the Right Rev Peter Price, thinks it may be Mary Magdalene.
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On the edge of the painting there are berries and foliage, suggesting the risqu茅 lady may be a small section of a much larger work hidden under the plasterwork.
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The first clue for Mark is the headdress the lady is seen wearing.
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He discovers that it was only fashionable for around ten years. Using brass rubbings he is able to date the fashion to around 1460.
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A quick check of the cathedral's records shows that in 1460, the Bishop was Thomas Beckynton.
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Beckynton was responsible for building a whole section of the palace, including the very same tower which is home to the mysterious lady.
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So he concludes the painting is almost certainly from Beckynton's time as Bishop, which ended in January 1465.
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Back in the Special Collections section of Bristol University's library, Mark makes an extraordinary discovery.
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In an old book, he finds an illustration of a meeting between Beckynton and the playwright Thomas Chaundler. Remarkably, it shows Chaundler presenting one of his plays to Beckynton in the throne room.
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The walls are covered with a floral pattern which seems to reflect some elements of the painting that has emerged from under the floorboards.
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While Mark's detective work doesn't reveal the precise identity of the mystery lady, he has uncovered some fabulous new clues.
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His work has inspired the current Bishop who would love to see the throne room restored to its former glory with the enchanting painted lady in pride of place.
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Inside Out West is broadcast on Monday 6 February at 7.30pm on 大象传媒 ONE in the West region.
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Notes to Editors
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Viewers outside the 大象传媒 West region can see it on digital satellite channel 956.
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Mark Horton is Head of the Archaeology and Anthropology Department at the University of Bristol and runs and teaches one of the few postgraduate programmes in Maritime Archaeology and History.
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JR
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