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

Grade II* listed building. Main construction periods 1153 to 1972. A Benedictine Nunnery founded in 1153, of St Mary Magdalene was dissolved in 1535. Of the church, only the 12th century nave survives, and is still used as a church. The substantially surviving west range, dating from the fourteenth century, is now topped with a post-dissolution storey and roof and is a private residence. None of the other service buildings have survived. The church and west range were restored in the mid nineteenth century, after a period of neglect, by Thomas Willement, the stained glass expert.

Monument Types

• BENEDICTINE NUNNERY (Medieval to Modern - 1153 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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

Description from record TR 06 SW 31:
[TR 0108 6173] Remains of [NAT] Priory [NR] (Benedictine Nuns, A.D. 1153) [NAT] (1) Priory of St. Mary Magdalen, Davington, Benedictine Nuns, founded 1153, dissolved 1535. The L-shaped remains adjoining the church (TR 06 SW 32) comprise the Prioress's Parlour, the Library, the western alley of the Cloister, the arch of the Lavatorium, and the Norman doorway of the Refectory. The ground floor is medieval work of chequer stone and flints and above it is a timber framed structure with plastered front. (2-4) The above description is correct. The remains are incorporated in a private residence and are in excellent condition. See GPs AO/63/127/3-4. (5) Davington Priory, Grade II*, Priory Road Davington. Founded in 1153. Wall and Postern gate to East of Davington Priory, Grade II, Priory Road Davington. 19th century postern gate of stone in Norman style. Wall in garden to Davington Priory (west of house), Grade II, Priory Road Davington. Short length of medieval wall. (For full descriptionssee list.) (6) The Benedictine Priory of St. Mary Magdalene was founded by Fulk de Newenham in 1153. It was originally for twenty-six nuns, but was reduced to 14 by Edward III on account of the scanty revenues, and by 1511 there were only 5. In 1535 the prioress died and the only other sister, a novice, left, so the priory became extinct. The buildings became derelict and passed to the crown. They were given by Henry VIII to Sir Thomas Cheney, and throughout the succeeding three centuries they fell into neglect. In 1845 Thomas Willement - one of the greatest pioneers of the 19th century stained glass painting revival - bought the surviving west part of the cloister and turned itinto a house. His restoration work was sensitive and thorough, incorporating many interesting stained glass windows he had collected or painted himself. In 1932 the house and grounds were purchased by the Church of England, but in 1972 reverted to private ownership. Thepresent (1974) owner is Mr Christopher Gibbs. (7-9) Almost all that remains above ground of Davington Priory is the twelfth century nave (see TR 06 SE 32) with the attached west range now occupied as a private dwelling. Excavations of the priory site were carried out in 1977. The position and width of the east range were traced by limited trenching. Flint footings marked the line of the east wall and its western counterpart was uncovered at its junction with the north wall of the south range. To the north, a thick wall, ran east-west and returned northward indicating that the building projected beyond the general line of the range. This was probably the south-east corner of the chapter house. Opposite the church are the remains of a wall with a plain round-headed 12th century doorway. This was the entrance to the refectory. Nothing remains of the cloister arcades. The west range dates largely from the early 14th century, but externally has been changed by post-Dissolution reconstruction of the roof. (See Illustration Card for plan of probable medieval layout.) (10) Additional bibliography (not consulted). (11-15)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
PRIORY ROAD 1. llO3 DAVINGTON
Davington Priory TR 0161 NW 7/148 29.7.50. II* GV
2. Founded in 1153. The buildings immediately adjoin the Church. They comprise the Prioress's Parlour, the Library, the Western alley of the Cloister, the arch of the Lavatorium and the Norman doorway of the Re- fectory. They form an L-shape. The best front faces East. The ground floor is medieval work of chequered stone and flints. Above it is a timber-framed structure with a plastered front, colour- washed and over-hanging on a moulded bressummer. 4 gables with moulded bressummers, bargeboards and pendants. The Southernmost 1 is over a projecting wing and has scalloped bargeboards, a cove beneath the bressummer and a cartouche in the gable. Balancing this projection at the North end of the front is a 2-storey porch. Beyond it is a small wing backing on to the Church which forms an L with the main building. Externally this is apparently Cl8 with a modern addition at its East end. The West front of the main building, which is the entrance front, has been modernised. The ground floor is of stone, above plastered, with 4 gables having moulded bressummers, billet-moulded bargeboards and pendants. Tiled roof, Modern windows. The stained glass artist Thomas Willement was responsible for most of the Cl9 alterations; he also incorporated some medieval stained glass into his design for the interior.
Davington Priory, Walls and Postern and Church of St Mary Magdalene form a group with Raven's Court Wall enclosing Raven's Court and Raven's Court Cottage, Brent Hill.
Listing NGR: TR0109261743 (16)

Historic England archive material (17)

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

<2> Med Religious Houses Engalnd and Wales 1953 211 (D Knowles and R N Hadcock) (OS Card Reference). SKE46814.

<3> VCH Kent 2 1926 144 (R C Fowler) (OS Card Reference). SKE50947.

<4> MHLG (1103/11/A June 1949) 26 (OS Card Reference). SKE46910.

<5> F1 ASP 02-AUG-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE41890.

<6> DOE (HHR) Boro of Faversham Kent Aug 1972 73 (OS Card Reference). SKE39844.

<7> KAR 37 Autumn 1974 212 (A Percival) (OS Card Reference). SKE45320.

<8> Med Religious Houses Engalnd and Wales 1971 258 (D Knowles and R N Hadcock) (OS Card Reference). SKE46815.

<9> The Buildings of England (ed N Pevsner) NE and E Kent 1983 279 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE50165.

<10> Arch Cant 95 1979 205-212 plan photos (P J Tester) (OS Card Reference). SKE36207.

<11> Country Life 9th and 16th Dec 1971 (OS Card Reference). SKE39467.

<12> Arch Cant 22 1897 275-292 (C V Collier) (OS Card Reference). SKE34844.

<13> Field report for monument TR 06 SW 30 - August, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5300.

<14> REMAINS OF PRIORY OF ST. MARY MAGDALENE AT FAVERSHAM - MD. AND TUDOR RANGE FROM N.W. (Photograph). SKE2550.

<15> REMAINS OF PRIORY OF ST. MARY MAGDALENE AT FAVERSHAM - MD. AND TUDOR WEST RANGE FROM S.E. (Photograph). SKE2551.

<16> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<17> Historic England, Archive material associated with Davington Priory, Faversham, Listed Building (Archive). SKE54491.

Sources and further reading