Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1100 to 1839. Cemetery Gate at St Augustine's Abbey was the former main entrance for lay people to the church and churchyard. It was constructed in the 14th century and restored in 1839. It comprises a main stone arch with a chamber above and octagonal turrets on either side. It has a crenellated parapet with machicolations.

Monument Types

• GATEHOUSE (Medieval to Modern - 1300 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TR 15 NE 222 :
[TR15375772] Cemetery Gate [NR]. (1) The Cemetery Gate was built between 1361 and 1375. (2) Cemetery Gate [NR] (Site of) [NAT]. (3) The Cemetery Gate at St Augustine's College. Grade I. 14th century, restored in 1839. Stone arch with chamber above. (4) Additional reference. (5) Cemetery Gate, built c1390 by Thomas Ickham. Similar to the Fyndon Gate (TR 15 NE 223) but far less ornate. Two octagonal turrets flank the front and between them is an embottled parapet. Unsympathetically restored, archways, blocked. Now occupied as a dwelling - Bailey House (TR 15 NE 223). (6) Foundations of Cemetery Gate excavated in 1985 by I. Anderson for CAT and Christchurch College. (7) See illustration card for plan. (8) Additional reference. (9)

The Canterbury UAD states that;
Abbot Hugh I of Fleury (1099-1124) was largely responsible for completing the building of the principal monastic buildings of the Abbey following on from earlier work by Abbot Wido (1087-99). It is to Abbot Hugh I work that the principal gates were originally dated when a precinct wall was erected along the west side of the complex fronting Monastery Street during the early thirteenth century. This was also the time that the lay cemetery, for the general, population, not the monk's, was expanded southwards into Longport. The Cemetery Gate, as its name suggests was the main gateway into the lay cemetery. The original gate was built in c. 1100-1124.

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 944 MONASTERY STREET (East Side)
The Cemetery Gateway at St Augustine's College TR 1557 NW 5/151B 3.12.49
I GV
2. C14, restored in 1839. Stone arch with chamber above. Octagonal turrets of ashlar, brick and flints. Crenellated parapet and machicolations. Rear elevation has rooms built on.
NO 1, wall adjoining No 1 to right, water pump opposite No 1, No 2, Nos 4 to 18 (even), St Augustine's College, Hall, Chapel, The Cemetery Gateway, The Great Gateway, wall in front of St Augustine's form a group. Listing NGR: TR1536057716 (10)

During the second half of the 14th century, in 1387 Abbot Thomas of Ickham gave a sum of money for the re-building of the Cemetery Gate and this was finished before 1391. The gate was re-built in the style of Fydon's Great Gate (built in 1300-1309 replacing a former gate further to the south) but somewhat simpler in its decoration. The existing Cemetery Gate, has two lofty octagonal turrets flanking the entrance arch. Over the arch are windows between niches and a row of finely moulded machicoulis, with battlemented tops to gate and turrets. It was heavilly restored in 1839. Today its portal is blocked and the structure is used a house.

<1> OS 1/1250 (OS Card Reference). SKE48113.

<2> Arch Cant 46 1934 182 plan (RU Potts) (OS Card Reference). SKE35178.

<3> OS 1/500 1874 (OS Card Reference). SKE48131.

<4> DOE (HHR) City of Cant Kent 1973 (OS Card Reference). SKE39953.

<5> JBAA 40 1884 26 (J Orger) (OS Card Reference). SKE44975.

<6> St Augustine's Abbey DOE Handbook 1955 22 (A Clapham) (OS Card Reference). SKE49559.

<7> Md Arch 30 1986 156 (SM Youngs J Clark T Barry) (OS Card Reference). SKE46636.

<8> St Augustine's Abbey and the Royal Palace CAT leaflet Dec 1984 (T Tatton-Brown M Sparks) (OS Card Reference). SKE49540.

<9> Arch Cant 100 1984 330 (M Sparks) (OS Card Reference). SKE34537.

<10> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading

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