Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1502 to 1939. Christchurch Gateway The main entrance to Christchurch Cathedral precincts. A square building with octagonal turrets built in ragstone and artificial stone. Rooms on two storeys above the vault. Restored in the 1930's by William Caroe.

Monument Types

• GATE (Medieval to Modern - 1502 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TR 15 NW 67:
(TR 14985785) Gate (NR). (1) Christchurch Gateway, Burgate. The entrance to the Cathedral Precincts. Built in 1517 and restored by Caroe in the 1930's. The wooden doors are C17. (2) Additional bibliography. (3) Additional bibliography - not consulted. (4-6)

The Canterbury UAD states that the main entry into the Cathedral Precincts is from Burgate via Christchurch Gate, also known as Cemetery Gate, because it leads directly across the churchyard, or 'exterior cemetery' to the south porch of the nave.

The gateway was built in 1517 under the auspices of Prior Goldston II, and was restored by Caroe in the 1930's. It is a square building 19 feet across, in Perpendicular style, with octagonal turrets and is much loftier than the Norman gateways. Lierne-vaulted ground floor entered through a wide four-centred arch and a foot-arch. Rooms on two storeys above the vault of the gate. The lower floor has bands of shields on quatrefoils, the upper floor has half-legnth angels carrying shields. The heraldic shields commemorate Prince Arthur, the eldest son of Henry VII who died in 1502. The large wooden doors are of seventeenth century date.

The gate stands on the spot of a much earlier gateway which is known for a document dated 1257 records a dwelling opposite to the Church Gate of that period, and is said to have been the old gateway to the cemetery.

A photograpic Survey was made of the gate before its restoration.

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 944 BURGATE (North East Side)
Christchurch Gateway TR 1457 NE 4/23 3.12.49.
I GV
2. The entrance to the Cathedral Precincts. Built in 1517 and restored by Caroe in the 1930s. 3 storeys ragstone and artificial stone. A square building with octagonal turrets. Lierne-vaulted ground floor entered through a wide centred arch and a foot arch. Rooms on 2 storeys above the vault. The lower floor has bands of shields on quatrefoils, the upper floor has half-length angels carrying shields. The heraldic shields commemorate Prince Arthur, the eldest son of Henry VII who died in 1502. The wooden doors are C17. Nos 23 to 37 (consec) and the Christchurch Gateway form a group. Listing NGR: TR1498357860 (9)

Historic England archive material: AL2400/117/02 View of the Christchurch Gate to Canterbury Cathedral, from the south-west BF083304 Canterbury Cathedral, Cathedral Precincts, Canterbury

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

<1> OS 1:2500 1957 (OS Card Reference). SKE48200.

<2> DOE (HHR) City of Canterbury Kent Sept 1973 36 (OS Card Reference). SKE40098.

<3> BOE NE & E Kent 1983 256 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE38211.

<4> Antiq and Topo Cabinet 4 1808 unpaginated illus (J Stour) (OS Card Reference). SKE33247.

<5> Country Life 82 July-Sept 1937 151 photos (OS Card Reference). SKE39455.

<6> Christ Church Gate Cant Cath 1965 (PH Blake) (OS Card Reference). SKE38958.

<7> Blockley, K., Sparks, M. & Tatton-Brown, T., 1997, Canterbury Cathedral Nave, Archaeology, History and Architecture (Monograph). SKE29723.

<8> Willis, R., 1868, 'The Architectural History of the Conventual Buildings of the Monastery of Christchurch in Canterbury' (Article in serial). SKE30206.

Sources and further reading

Related records