Exploring Kent's Past

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

Summary

The Priory, of Augustinian Canons was founded 1253 by Sir John Mansell (Lord Chief Justics, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, etc.). It was dissolved in 1536 and used as a Farmhouse, becoming progressively more ruinous until restoration 1906. Foundations and remains of cloisters still exist to the north, the church (of St. Mary the Virgin and St. Nicholas) beyond that and further still the Gate House and Holy Well, as well as 3 fishponds (1 a moat to the south-west).

Summary from record TR 03 NW 1 :

Augustinian priory, dedicated to St Mary, was founded AD 1253 and dissolved in 1536. The complex consists of the remains of a moat, refectory, prior's lodgings and fishponds around a modern house

Summary from record TR 03 NW 10:

Augustinian Canons; founded AD 1253, dissolved AD 1536; dedicated to St Mary. The complex comprises a moat round the modern house, remains of Priory buildings (probably Refectory and Prior's lodgings) to its NE, another moat to the NW, and two fishponds, one about 100 yards to the north and the other close by on the south.

Monument Types

• AUGUSTINIAN MONASTERY (AUGUSTINIAN MONASTERY, Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• FISHPOND (FISHPOND, Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• MOAT (MOAT, Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• CHURCH (1253, Medieval - 1253 AD to 1253 AD)
• CLOISTER (1253, Medieval - 1253 AD to 1253 AD)
• GATEHOUSE (1253, Medieval - 1253 AD to 1253 AD)
• HOLY WELL (1253, Medieval - 1253 AD to 1253 AD)
• INFIRMARY (1253, Medieval - 1253 AD to 1253 AD)
• MONASTIC DWELLING (1253, Medieval - 1253 AD to 1253 AD)
• REFECTORY (1253, Medieval - 1253 AD to 1253 AD)
• SITE (Medieval to Modern - 1253 AD to 1906 AD)
• TOWER (1253, Medieval - 1253 AD to 1253 AD)
• SMUGGLERS CACHE (C19, Post Medieval - 1800 AD to 1899 AD)
• FARMHOUSE (1906, Modern - 1906 AD to 1906 AD)

Full description

If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us.

(TR 04333552) Remains of St. Augustine's Priory (NR) (founded A.D. 1253) (TR 04223562) Moat (NR) (1) Bilsington Priory: a house of Augustinian Canons; founded AD 1253, dissolved AD 1536; dedicated to St Mary. The complex comprises a moat round the modern house, remains of Priory buildings (probably Refectory and Prior's lodgings) to its NE, another moat to the NW, and two fishponds, one about 100 yards to the north and the other close by on the south. (2-4) Bilsington Priory (Medieval buildings only) Grade 1. The house is modern but detached to the north east of it is a portion of the Priory of the virgin Mary founded by John Mansell, Provost of Beverley, in 1253 for Augustinian Canons, and dissolved in 1536. This consists of the Refectory with the Assembly Hall over it and the Prior's Lodging to the south-west. C13, restored in 1906. Stone rubble. Tiled roof. The Refectory and Hall have buttresses at the angles rising the whole height of the building. 3 modern ws. at the first floor level on the west front. The Prior's Lodging is an L-shaped wing to the south-west. 3s. with square tower of 4s. in the angle of the L. Buttresses on ground floor only at the angles and along the south front. (5) The owner states that: (a) the remains of the Church and Cloister were found in the field north of the extant buildings in an excavation by C.R. Councer for the Kent Arch Soc 1952 (unpublished); (b) the farm-buildings, now one, at TR 04373561 incorporated remains of the Gatehouse; (c) the well at TR 04433565 is a Holy Well connected with the Priory. The extant Priory buildings have been completely renovated and roofed and are in excellent condition. Nothing is now visible at the indicated position of the Gatehouse and the reputed Holy Well is concrete lined with recent brick housing. The Moat round the new house (built 1906) has been much mutilated in landscaping. It is clearly not directly related to the Priory and probably therefore represents the site of Bilsington Superior Manor (see b) House (owned by Sir John Mansel, founder of the Priory). The other 'Moat' and two ponds are probably all fishponds, though they have not the usual formal shape; that on the north has a merely superficial resemblance to a moat, and that on the south is an enlargement of the proper moat. The dedication is said to be to St Mary the Virgin and St Nicholas (b). (6) The monument was designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument in 1999 (16)

Description from record TR 03 NW 10:
Description from record TR 03 NW 1 :
(TR 04333552) Remains of St. Augustine's Priory (NR) (founded A.D. 1253) (TR 04223562) Moat (NR) (1) Bilsington Priory: a house of Augustinian Canons; founded AD 1253, dissolved AD 1536; dedicated to St Mary. The complex comprises a moat round the modern house, remains of Priory buildings (probably Refectory and Prior's lodgings) to its NE, another moat to the NW, and two fishponds, one about 100 yards to the north and the other close by on the south. (2-4) Bilsington Priory (Medieval buildings only) Grade 1. The house is modern but detached to the north east of it is a portion of the Priory of the virgin Mary founded by John Mansell, Provost of Beverley, in 1253 for Augustinian Canons, and dissolved in 1536. This consists of the Refectory with the Assembly Hall over it and the Prior's Lodging to the south-west. C13, restored in 1906. Stone rubble. Tiled roof. The Refectory and Hall have buttresses at the angles rising the whole height of the building. 3 modern ws. at the first floor level on the west front. The Prior's Lodging is an L-shaped wing to the south-west. 3s. with square tower of 4s. in the angle of the L. Buttresses on ground floor only at the angles and along the south front. (5) The owner states that: (a) the remains of the Church and Cloister were found in the field north of the extant buildings in an excavation by C.R. Councer for the Kent Arch Soc 1952 (unpublished); (b) the farm-buildings, now one, at TR 04373561 incorporated remains of the Gatehouse; (c) the well at TR 04433565 is a Holy Well connected with the Priory. The extant Priory buildings have been completely renovated and roofed and are in excellent condition. Nothing is now visible at the indicated position of the Gatehouse and the reputed Holy Well is concrete lined with recent brick housing. The Moat round the new house (built 1906) has been much mutilated in landscaping. It is clearly not directly related to the Priory and probably therefore represents the site of Bilsington Superior Manor (see b) House (owned by Sir John Mansel, founder of the Priory). The other 'Moat' and two ponds are probably all fishponds, though they have not the usual formal shape; that on the north has a merely superficial resemblance to a moat, and that on the south is an enlargement of the proper moat. The dedication is said to be to St Mary the Virgin and St Nicholas (b). (6) The monument was designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument in 1999 (16)

ENTRY IN THE SCHEDULE OF MONUMENTS:

The monument includes an Augustinian monastery and an earlier medieval manorial residence situated on a clay hill which overlooks Romney Marsh to the south. The monastery and moated site survive in the form of standing buildings, water-filled fishponds, earthworks and associated below ground remains. Dedicated to St Mary the Virgin and St Nicholas, the monastery was founded in 1253 by Sir John Mansell, Lord Chief Justice of England and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. Mansell had the monastic buildings constructed at the manorial centre of Upper Bilsington, endowing the monastery with the surrounding demesne lands. The roughly square, north east-south west aligned moat which lies within the southern part of the monument is believed to represent the pre-existing, moated medieval manor house. The north eastern arm of the moat has become infilled, but will survive as a below ground feature.

The central part of the moated island is now occupied by The Priory, a large private residence built in 1906. The construction of the modern house, along with associated garden landscaping, has partly disturbed this area of the monument. The Priory is excluded from the scheduling although the ground beneath is included. Below ground traces of the manorial centre and later monastery can be expected to survive on the moated island in the areas beneath and around the modern house.

Situated towards the eastern edge of the monument, the main monastic buildings were arranged around a square, north west-south east aligned cloister yard. The standing, `L'-shaped ranges are mainly constructed of originally plastered ragstone rubble, decorated with ashlar dressings and topped by clay-tiled roofs. Internally, there has been some reconstruction in red brick. The buildings are thought to represent the southern, refectory range, with the abbot's and guest lodgings attached to its south eastern corner. The main, north west-south east aligned refectory range is two-storeyed, housing a first floor hall above a plain undercroft, used originally for storage. The main entrance is approached through a timbered porch attached to the north western gable end. The range has a restored roof supported by three crown post trusses. The abbot's and guest lodgings incorporate a three-storeyed, square tower with a hipped roof, and a cross-wing projecting to the south west. The buildings are linked by a three-storeyed staircase turret at their north eastern angle. Historical records indicate that the monastic buildings were constructed in the years between 1253-58, with some later additions. Many original medieval features survive, although subsequent work, in particular the major restoration of 1906, which involved the almost complete rebuilding and heightening of the cross wing, have altered the form and appearance of the buildings. In situ medieval features include the original doorway through the north western gable end of the refectory range, corner buttresses supporting the refectory and the tower, blocked doorways in the northern refectory wall, some original windows and a fireplace in the tower chamber. The standing buildings including The Priory are Listed Grade I.

Investigations carried out in 1952 indicated that the other main claustral buildings, including the monastic church, survive as below ground archaeological features in an area of hummocky ground to the north east of the standing ranges. Buried traces of the gatehouse, providing the original access into the monastic precinct and subsequently incorporated into now demolished farm buildings, will survive in the north eastern corner of the monument.

Further associated below ground remains, including any subsidiary cloisters and the monastic burial ground, can be expected to survive within the areas surrounding the main cloister. Two large, irregular fishponds, constructed in the northern part of the monument, and a third smaller pond which reuses the north eastern part of the moat, helped to supply the monastery with fresh fish. Bilsington Priory was dissolved in 1536, and ownership passed for a time to Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury. Much of the monastery was demolished and the surviving buildings reused as a farmhouse throughout the post-medieval period. During the early 19th century, local smugglers known as the Aldington Gang used the monastic buildings for the storage of contraband. The buildings fell gradually into decay before the major restoration of 1906. The grounds were used for army training during World War II, which will have caused some disturbance to the monument.

A number of features are excluded from the scheduling; these are The Priory (the private dwelling built in 1906), the early 20th century road bridge over the moat, the modern footbridge giving access onto the north eastern fishpond island, all modern outbuildings, garden structures and features, all modern fences and gates, and the modern surfaces of all roads, tracks, paths, paving and hardstanding; the ground beneath all these features is, however, included.

ASSESSMENT OF IMPORTANCE
From the time of St Augustine's mission to re-establish Christianity in AD 597 to the reign of Henry VIII, monasticism formed an important facet of both religious and secular life in the British Isles. Settlements of religious communities, including monasteries, were built to house communities of monks, canons (priests), and sometimes lay-brothers, living a common life of religious observance under some form of systematic discipline. It is estimated from documentary evidence that over 700 monasteries were founded in England. These ranged in size from major communities with several hundred members to tiny establishments with a handful of brethren. They belonged to a wide variety of different religious orders, each with its own philosophy. As a result, they vary considerably in the detail of their appearance and layout, although all possess the basic elements of church, domestic accommodation for the community, and work buildings. Monasteries were inextricably woven into the fabric of medieval society, acting not only as centres of worship, learning, and charity, but also, because of the vast landholdings of some orders, as centres of immense wealth and political influence. They were established in all parts of England, some in towns and others in the remotest of areas. Many monasteries acted as the foci of wide networks including parish churches, almshouses, hospitals, farming estates and tenant villages. Some 225 of these religious houses belonged to the order of St Augustine.

The Augustinians were not monks in the strict sense, but rather communities of canons - or priests - living under the rule of St Augustine. In England they came to be known as `black canons' because of their dark coloured robes and to distinguish them from the Cistercians who wore light clothing. From the 12th century onwards, they undertook much valuable work in the parishes, running almshouses, schools and hospitals as well as maintaining and preaching in parish churches. It was from the churches that they derived much of their revenue. The Augustinians made a major contribution to many facets of medieval life and all of their monasteries which exhibit significant surviving archaeological remains are worthy of protection.

The Augustinian monastery at Bilsington survives well, despite some subsequent disturbance, in close association with an earlier medieval moated manor house, and retains high quality standing buildings and water-filled fishponds. Part excavation has confirmed that the monument also contains important archaeological and environmental evidence relating to the original form, use and development of the monastery and manorial centre. (17)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
TR 03 NW BILSINGTON PRIORY ROAD (east side) 3/75 St. Augustine's Priory (Medieval buildings) (formerly 13.10.52 listed as The Priory) I Monastic remains, sometime house. Founded 1253, restored 1906 by J.T. Micklethwaite, Architect, for R.H. Balston. Ragstone with plain tiled roof. First floor hall connected by 3 storey tower to 3 storeyed cross-wing. The hall range with corner buttresses and string course and C20 plate traceried windows with 1 (genuine?) lancet in gable end. The north elevation with cill cornice to 1st floor, raised to centre, with blocked doorways to left and to right (with four centred arch) and corbel heads. The foundations of cloisters projecting from this elevation have been traced. Tower in 2 stages externally with small corner buttresses with restored square headed doorway and shouldered lights. Shallow south eastern angle vice. Hipped roof with gablets and stack. Three storey cross-wing, with low angle buttress, and hipped roof with gablets. Small squared lights. Entry by depressed arched and chamfered doorway to undercroft of main hall in wooden porch. Interior: plain undercroft, C20 wooden turned baluster stair to main hall, the internal reveals of the windows brought down as seats, only the western window possibly original. Blocked chamfered arched door- ways on northern face and to right of western window on west wall. Remains embedded at south end of moulded main beams of screens passage/ gallery. Restored roof of 3 crown posts on moulded tie beams and wall plate. Spiral staircase full height in tower block with chamfered arched doorways to hall and each floor of chamber block. Tower chamber with simple chamfered fireplaces and moulded cross-beamed roof. Chamber cross-wing with short moulded crown post to upper room, possibly originally a double height chamber with inserted 1st floor ceiling. Tower roof with 3 massively braced tie beams and scissor-braced rafters. The function of the surviving buildings has never been fully established, probably the Infirmary hall, possibly the Refectory with Prior's Lodgings attached. The Priory, of Augustinian Canons was founded 1253 by Sir John Mansell (Lord Chief Justics, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, etc.). Dissolved 1536, and used as a Farmhouse, becoming progressively more ruinous until restoration 1906. Foundations and remains of cloisters to north, the church (of St. Mary the Virgin and St. Nicholas) beyond that and further still the Gate House and Holy Well, as well as 3 fishponds (1 a moat to the south-west). The plan has affinities with the premonstratensian priory at East Langdon, Kent. Used as a storage base by smuggling gangs, particularly the Ransley gang e.C19. (See printed Guide; B.O.E. Kent I, 171-2; Arch. Cant. XXVII; Igglesden, VII, 1906). Listing NGR: TR0428935494 (18)

<1> OS 6" 1961 (OS Card Reference). SKE48369.

<2> Md Relig Houses Eng & Wales 1953 128 (Knowles & Hadcock) (OS Card Reference). SKE46704.

<3> Arch Cant 27 1905 xlviii-li (C E Woodruff) (OS Card Reference). SKE34922.

<4> VCH Kent 1 1908 425 (I C Gould) (OS Card Reference). SKE50891.

<5> MHLG East Ashford R D Kent July 1955 8 (OS Card Reference). SKE47112.

<6> F1 GSL 17-JAN-1963 (OS Card Reference). SKE43019.

<7> Oral: Major H R Pratt Boorman, owner (OS Card Reference). SKE48049.

<8> Illustrated leaflet by the above (OS Card Reference). SKE44208.

<9> OS 1:10000 1975 (OS Card Reference). SKE48160.

<10> Moated Sites Res Grp Rept 6 1979 46 (OS Card Reference). SKE47287.

<11> Bldgs of Eng Kent & the Weald 1980 171-2 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE37732.

<12> Letter (C R Councer 9 4 86) (OS Card Reference). SKE46027.

<13> Md Rel Ho Eng & Wales 1971 138 148 (D Knowles & R N Hodcock) (OS Card Reference). SKE46680.

<14> Field report for monument TR 03 NW 1 - January, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5098.

<15> GENERAL VIEW OF REMAINS OF ST. AUGUSTINE'S PRIORY FROM NORTH WEST (Photograph). SKE2608.

<16> English Heritage, 1965, Dover Castle (Scheduling record). SKE6594.

<17> English Heritage, Register of Scheduled Monuments (Scheduling record). SKE16191.

<18> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading

Related records

Related thematic articles

• Medieval Kent (Thematic Essay)