Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1100 to 1499. Cathedral Cloister Buildings (remains of)- mostly 12th century, with early 13th century modifications.

Monument Types

• CLOISTER (Medieval to Modern - 1100 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TQ 76 NW 153 :
[TQ 74276844] The Precinct [NAT] Cloisters [AT](remains of) [NAT] [1].

ROCHESTER THE PRECINCT. Cathedral cloister buildings (formerly listed as College Green). Ruins of claustral buildings of the Cathedral Priory of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary (see ref 7 and 9/193). Mostly C12, but with early C13 modifications. The cloister is unusual in that it adjoins the south parts of the eastern end of the cathedral. Mainly Ragstone. [Full architectural reference] LISTED GRADE I [2]

Additional description and evaluation. (a) [3].

(See also the Cloister Gate TQ 76 NW 154).

In 2009 Kevil Heritage Consultancy carried out an evaluation in the cloister. Three test pits found a late medieval (perhaps 15th century) tile pavement. The south cloister wall was also located, originally the Roman town wall. Redeposited brickearth may be part of the associated rampart. A subsequent watching brief on a pipe trench also found these features in addition to remains of the Prebendal house. Finds included encaustic floor tiles of 13th or 14th century date. (4)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
TQ 7468 NW ROCHESTER THE PRECINCT 7/8 gateway to Precinct (see College Yard)
TQ 7468 ROCHESTER THE PRECINCT
9/188 Cathedral Cloister Buildings Formerly listed as College Green) 24-10-50 GV I
Ruins of claustral buildings of the cathedral priory of Christ and the BVM (see ref 7 and 9/193; also the Cloister Gate, ref 9/189). Mostly C12, but with early C13 modifications; the cloister is unusual in that it adjoins the S parts of the E end of the cathedral (rather than the S nave aisle and main transept). Mainly ragstone. little survuves above ground level of the S range except the Cloister Gate (ref 1/189). To the S, the site of the Refectory, with round-headed opeingings and (immediately being) a tiny 2-bay vaulted C13 Lavatorium entered through a pointed arch with a cusped inner order, decorated with dog-tooth; shafts keeled. (These reminas and the associated walling which may incoperated Roman materials, lie beneath and partly underpin the C19 Garth and Cloister Houses, see rafts 9/191 and 9/192). to the E, intersecting blank arcading, doorway to former Dormitory middle third of C12, with Tournai marble shafts (a great rarity in England) and a weathered relief of the Sacrifice of Isaac. To the left tripartite entrance to the Chapter House with lancets above connected by blind niches. Chapter House retangular on plan, intersecting wall arcading with some C15 alterations. the Chapter House is connected to the King's School (ref 9/190). for detailed description and evaluation see Newman, West Kent and the Weald, Buildings of England (2nd ed, 1980 reprint) pp 486-7)
Listing NGR: TQ7425768489 (5)

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

<1> OS 1:2500 1970 (OS Card Reference). SKE48212.

<2> DOE(HHR)City of Rochester upon Medway Kent, 2nd Dec 1991 105 (OS Card Reference). SKE41259.

<3> Newman J(1980)The Buildings of England:West Kent and the Weald 486-7 (OS Card Reference). SKE47543.

<4> Keevill Heritage Consultancy, 2010, Rochester Cathedral, Medway, Kent: Report of an archaeological evaluation and watching brief in the cloister and south quire aisle shop store (Unpublished document). SKE24770.

Sources and further reading

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