Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II* listed building. Main construction periods 1066 to 1732. Medieval building: remains of alleged C13th Cistercian priory (prob a grange?). The "Priory", a dependency of Pontigny and extant from circa 1264-1414, and probably a grange rather than a small priory. Some remains of this establishment may still be seen in the Ashford Road, and show some 14th century features, but owing to over-restoration and some fancy additions, it is difficult to decipher.

Monument Types

• CISTERCIAN GRANGE (CISTERCIAN GRANGE, Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• SITE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1732 AD)
• CISTERCIAN MONASTERY (CISTERCIAN MONASTERY, Medieval - 1264 AD to 1414 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TR 02 SE 5 :
[TR 06432484] Priory [NR] (Rems of) (1) An alien priory (Cistercian) is alleged to have been founded in 1264 at New Romney, but it is doubtful if there was ever any regular settlement of monks, and it was probably more in the nature of a grange. It was dissolved c.1414. (2) Behind St. John's Priory, or Priory House, a modern house on the corner of High Street and Ashford Road, New Romney, "are the ruins of the medieval Priory founded in the 13th century, "consisting of a small two storeyed building with a tile roof and three windows. Behind this is a reconstructed wall, made up of medieval stones. [These remains may belong to the Franciscan Friary. See TR 02 SE 8]. (3) The remains are as described by Auth. 3. The small building at TR 06432484 though much restored is probably original. GP AO/63/126/7. (4) St. John's Priory, including the ruins of the Priory, High Street. Grade II*. A large L-shaped house with early 18th century front, possibly older behind the facade. 2 storeys attics and basement red brick on a base of stone rubble with flint galleting. Tiled roof with 2 hipped dormers to the Ashford Road elevation. To the rear of the house are the ruins of a medieval Priory founded in the 13th century. The main part of these consists of a small building of stone rubble with a tiled roof. 2 storeys. (5) The "Priory", a dependency of Pontigny, and perhaps a grange rather than a small priory. Some remains of this establishment may still be seen in the Ashford Road, and shows some 14th century features, but owing to over-restoration and some fancy additions, it is difficult to decipher. (6) St. John's Priory, a medieval building, two storeys high, continued by a long stone wall. On both a picturesque array of medieval fragments, all very worn, heads, doorways, etc. The windows with Y-tracery look no older than 19th century, which leaves nothing as evidence of the building's original character. (7)

Additional bibliography (8-10)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 1449 HIGH STREET (North West Side)
St John's Priory, including the ruins of the Priory TR 0624 1/14 28.8.51.
II* GV
2. A large L-shaped house with early C18 front, possibly older behind the facade. 2-storeys attics and basement red brick on a base of stone rubble with flint galleting. Tiled roof with 2 hipped dormers to the Ashford Road elevation. Parapet. 7 sashes facing High Street, 3 sashes and 2 blank window spaces facing Ashford Road. Glazing bars intact except in 3 ground floor windows on the High Street front and brick architraves above. Doorcase up 5 steps in a moulded architrave surround with rectangular fanlight, large flat hood on carved brackets and door of 8 fielded panels. 2 inserted bow windows. The side facing Ashford Road has a recessed doorcase with rectangular fanlight over. The interior retains some panelling and a good staircase with 2 turned balusters to each tread and scrolled tread ends. To the rear of the house are the ruins of a mediaeval Priory founded in the Cl3. The main part of these consists of a small building of stone rubble with a tiled roof. 2 storeys. 3 windows, 1 of which is a small rectangular window. The other windows have 2 lights each, with a corbel head in the spandrel between the lights and a dripstone over. Pointed doorway (now bricked up) with similar corbel head over. Another pointed doorway (unblocked) to the North without corbel head. Beamed interior. Behind this complete building to the North is a reconstructed wall made up of Mediaeval stones. It contains one small pointed window, 2 small rectangular windows, 1 blocked window of 2 quatrefoil- headed lights with a corbel bracket over, and in the centre of the wall a large depressed (almost square-headed) archway (now bricked up) with the remains of a window over it and a corbel bracket. Nos 38 & 40, St John's Priory, Nos 46 & 48 form a group.
Listing NGR: TR0644124829 (11)

<1> OS 25" 1937 (OS Card Reference). SKE48264.

<2> Med Rel Houses Eng and Wales 1953 120 (Knowles and Hadcock) (OS Card Reference). SKE46786.

<3> VCH Kent 2 1926 239 (OS Card Reference). SKE50973.

<4> Min of Town and Country Planning Prov List New Romney MB Nov 1949 6 No 1/14a (OS Card Reference). SKE47203.

<5> F1 CFW 21-MAR-1963 (OS Card Reference). SKE42688.

<6> DOE (HHR) Boro of New Romney Kent 1973 15 (OS Card Reference). SKE39885.

<7> Arch Cant 88 1973 120 (EW Parkin) (OS Card Reference). SKE35926.

<8> Bldgs of Eng - W Kent and the Weald 1980 434-35 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE37678.

<9> Field report for monument TR 02 SE 5 - March, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5060.

<10> CISTERCIAN PRIORY AT NEW ROMNEY FROM N.E. (Photograph). SKE2555.

<11> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading

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