Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1066 to 1899. Built c1334 as a gateway into the precinct of the former priory of St Andrews, Deanery Gate is a rubble stone, continuously moulded arch with timber-framed, jettied gatehouse above. An attached double-pile, brick house is a c1720 rebuild.

Monument Types

• GATEHOUSE (GATEHOUSE, Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• SITE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1899 AD)
• HOUSE (HOUSE, Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

• COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TQ 76 NW 131 :
(TQ 7429 6854) Deanery Gate [NR] (1)

Deanery Gate, Grade 1. Originally Sextry Gate to St Andrew's Priory. Medieval arch with right hand extension to touch Gundulf Tower. Stone rubble. Small doorway within gateway (for full description see list). (2)

A Roman coin of Valens and miscellaneous C17th and C18th pottery and other finds were discovered during trial excavations during 1973-4 in the garden of Deanery Gate. (3)

ROCHESTER THE PRECINCT Deanery Gate and Gatehouse. (formerly the Sextry Gate) Gateway (originally leading into the precinct of the priory of St. Andrews) with house attached. The house, largely C18 and C19, incorporates medieval work. [Full architectural description] LISTED GRADE I [4].

Additional architectural reference. (a) (5)

In 2007/8 Keevil Heritage Consultancy carried out a programme of building recording during renovation works and a watching brief on groundworks. The watching brief recorded an inscribed stone in the basement wall. The inscription could not be deciphered and could be of Roman to post medieval date. During the renovation the roof was removed. The rafters were found to have two sets of numbers incised into them, probably indicating that the roof had been removed and rearranged at an earlier date. The rafters were considered for dendrochronological dating but were found not to be suited. They are likely to be of early 18th century date. The medieval chambers over the gate were recorded during the renovation. The blocked spiral staircase was opened and found to be truncated by a fireplace. It was also found to have originally been within a polygonal tower pre-dating the gateway, possibly of late 12th or 13th century date. This was partially demolished and rebuilt in c. AD 1400 as the current structure. (6)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
ROCHESTER THE PRECINCT TQ 7468 NW 7/187 Deanery Gate and Gatehouse (formerly Sextry 24-10-50 Gate) GV I Gateway (originally leading into the precinct of the former pirory of St Andrews) with house attached. The house, largely C18 and C19, incorporates medieval work. Both components are here described seaprately. (1) The archway and room above. The arch and moulding profiles are identical with those of Chertsey's Gate (High St, qv). Probably mid C14 (ie c.1334 when the precinct wall was erected). Random rubble walls to ground floor with jettied timber-frames and rendered 1st floor. Kent tile roof, hipped with gablet to S. Ground floor contains gatekeeper's room (entered from within the archway) which abuts Gandulph's Tower (cathedral, qv). 1st floor room now forms part of the adjoining Deanery Gatehouse. Both inner and outer arches are 4-centred and moulded. No windows to ground floor. Upper floor to W with 2 12-pane hornless sash windows; one similar window to E. Interior: 1st floor with jowelled posts, integral (or early) wall planking; plain crown post roof. (2) The house (Deanery Gatehouse). Brick (with remnants of timber framing); double-depth plan, each range separately gabled with end stacks. Framing post embedded in rear wall of front range suggests that a timber-framed single-depth building continued in series with gatehouse. This was refurbished and the rear range built in the mid to late C18, and later modifications were made in C19. 2 storeys and attic. Front (W): rendered; regular 4-window range; 2 3-light flat-roofed dormer casement windows with weatherboarded sides. Otherwise 12-pane hornless sashes under segmental window arches and in reveals throughout. External shutters to ground floor. Right of centre doorway with wooden doorcase with panelled pilasters, plain reveals, pediment on console brackets; 5-panelled door. 4 steps with wrought-iron plain railings. Rear (E, garden): 4 window range with 2 2-light hipped dormers. Sash windows as front. Interior: open-well stair with turned balusters and round-section newels (that continue along landing); rear range: panelled ground-floor room with (to N end) chimney piece with shouldered arch, egg and dart mouldings and frieze with festoons, all flanked with round-headed alcoves with key- pieces and 6-panelled doors. Note: this building was originally listed as Deanery Gate (Grade I, ref 1/7) and Deanery Gatehouse, which included the room over the gate (Grade II, ref 1/7B). The present listing refers to the entire building.
Listing NGR: TQ7430468556(7)

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

<2> MHLG City of Rochester 1969 4 (OS Card Reference). SKE47105.

<3> Arch Cant 89 1974 205-6 (P Hayes) (OS Card Reference). SKE35974.

<4> DOE(HHR)City of Rochester upon Medway Kent, 2nd Dec 1991 104-105 (OS Card Reference). SKE41258.

<5> Newman J(1980)The Buildings of England:West Kent and the Weald 488 (OS Card Reference). SKE47544.

<6> Keevill Heritage Consultancy, 2010, Rochester Cathedral, Medway, Kent: Report of Archaeological Watching Brief and Building Recording at Deanery Gate House (Unpublished document). SKE24780.

<7> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading