Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1304 to 1397. Chapter House

Monument Types

• CHAPTER HOUSE (Medieval to Modern - 1304 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TR 15 NE 140 :
(TR 15105795) Chapter House [NR]. (1) Chapter House to Christchurch Cathedral, Grade I. Formerly the Chapter House to the monastery of Christ Church. The present building dates from 1304. Fine wooden waggon vault roof of 1397. (2)

The Canterbury UAD states that the Chapter House was a place where the monks met everyday to conduct the business of the monastery. Here major items of business were discussed.

There was a Chapter House here in Norman times, though it must have been somewhat smaller than the current building. The Chapter House was re-built, probably re-using Lanfranc's walling, and made longer, by Prior Eastry in 1304. It was given end gables, a new roof of Irish bog-oak and new windows by Prior Chillenden a century later in c. 1400. The vastly lofty, oblong interior measures some 90 feet by 35 feet and is thus very large for this class of building. It is impressive because its majestic proportions are left to speak for themselves. There is no vestible, so the wall-shafts divide the room into four equal bays. A double stone seat runs around all four walls. The screens are Prior Eastry's work with the Priors throne in the centre, sheltered beneath a canted canopy gabled in three directions, with crockets and pinnacles.

After the Reformation Sunday sermons were given here for the Puritans, giving the place the name of the Sermon House. Some of the trials for heresy in the reign of Mary were conducted here.

By 1845 the Chapter House was reported as being in disorder, damp and littered and looked as if it were of no use in the modern economy of the cathedral. Things clearly improved for by 1897 Edward Prince of Wales and his wife Princess Alxendra were visitors to the Chapter House, which had no doubt been restored to some of its former glory by then. (3, 4, 5).

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 944 THE CATHEDRAL PRECINCTS
Chapter House to Christchurch Cathedral TR 1557 NW 5/1B
I
2. Formerly the Chapter House to the monastery of Christ Church. The present building dates from 1304 and has a simple arcade of pointed trefoil arches. Fine wooden waggon vault roof of 1397.
Listing NGR: TR1510557948 (6)

Historic England archive material (7)

<1> OS 1:500 1874 (OS Card Reference). SKE48230.

<2> DOE (HHR) City of Canterbury Kent Sept 1973 62 (OS Card Reference). SKE40122.

<3> John Newman, 1969, The Buildings of England: North East and East Kent (Monograph). SKE7874.

<4> Willett, C., 1960, Canterbury Cathedral A Pictorial Guide (Monograph). SKE29722.

<5> Ingram Hill, D., 1976, Christ's Glorious Church, The Story of Canterbury Cathedral (Monograph). SKE30200.

<6> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<7> Historic England, Archive material associated with The Chapter House, Listed Building (Archive). SKE54623.

Sources and further reading

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