Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II listed building. Main construction periods 1170 to 1398. Hall and Chapel - built under Abbot Roger of Chichester (1253-73). The west gable wall of the chapel still survives with three lancets and a quatrefoil above. Below this wall, the blocked-in arch of the earlier gateway can be made out. The guest hall is slightly later in date. Built at the end of the 13th century on the first floor of the west side of the inner court, this quite exceptionally retains much of its original 'king strut' roof. There was a kitchen beneath and a large chimney which still survives in the back (east) wall. The old guest hall was used during the 18th century as an inn called The Old Palace. Both the chapel and the guest hall were restored in the 19th century and incorporated into St Augustine's College.

Monument Types

• GREAT HALL (HOUSE, Medieval to Modern - 1267 AD to 2050 AD)
• PRIVATE CHAPEL (Medieval to Modern - 1267 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TR 15 NE 224:
[TR 15395781] Chapel (Private) [NAT]. (1) Hall [TR 15395783] and Chapel [TR15395781] of St Augustine's College. Grade II. 14th century restored. The chapel incorporates an early English structure on a vaulted undercroft. (2) Additional reference. (3) College dining hall and chapel. (4) Guest Hall: Though heavily restored in the 19th century this building still contains most of its 13th century King-Post roof intact, as well as the timbers in the ground floor that supported the first floor hall. (5) Guest Hall roof. (6) Chapel, built in 1260s over a gate, possibly the original main Abbey gate, c100ft S of Fyndon Gate (TR 15 NE 223). To the N of it a new first floor Guest Hall was built. (7) Old guest hall used during the 18th century as an inn, called the Old Palace. (8)

In 2012 Canterbury Archaeological Trust carried out a watching brief on works within the kitchen/guest hall and excavated two drainage trenches outside of the building. An earlier wall was located, perhaps relating to a structure that preceded the current building. The core of the 13th century building appears to have survived 19th century alterations to the structure, this later work therefore having been re-facing rather than replacing. (9)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 944 MONASTERY STREET (East Side)
Hall and Chapel of St Augustine's College TR 1557 NW 5/573
II GV
2. C14 restored. 2 storeys rubble with restored tiled roof. The side elevation is of 2 storeys flint with stone lancets. The 1st floor retains its crown-post roof and fine stone fireplace. The chapel incorporates an early English structure on a vaulted undercroft.
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: TR1539157813 (9)

<1> OS 1/1250 1972 (OS Card Reference). SKE48120.

<2> DOE (HHR) City of Canterbury Kent Sept 1973 147 (OS Card Reference). SKE40003.

<3> JBAA 40 1884 25 (J Orger) (OS Card Reference). SKE44973.

<4> Arch J 84 1927 463 (RU Potts) (OS Card Reference). SKE36697.

<5> CAT Ann Rep 4 1979-80 33 (T Tatton-Brown) (OS Card Reference). SKE38671.

<6> Md Arch 27 1983 125-135 (Mundy M Sparks T Tatton-Brown) (OS Card Reference). SKE46629.

<7> Arch Cant 100 1984 180-1 (T Tatton-Brown) (OS Card Reference). SKE34527.

<8> St Augustine's Abbey Eng Heritage handbook 1989 13 (M Sparks) (OS Card Reference). SKE49583.

<9> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading

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