Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A school, part of the original King's School was established in the mid 16th century in the former Almonry Chapel.

Monument Types

• SCHOOL (Post Medieval to Unknown - 1573 AD)

Full description

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A school, part of the original King's School was established in the mid 16th century in the former Almonry Chapel.
The Almonry Chapel which lies in the south side of Almonry Yard (also called Mint Yard) was built by Prior Henry of Eastry between 1324 and 1328 and was dedicated on its completion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Thomas of Canterbury. It is believed that the original Almonry Chapel was within the Norman North Hall (Aula Nova).

A group of six secular priests, under a Dean, were installed at the west end of the building to minister to the poor and the needy, and to celebrate masses daily for the souls of King's Edward I & II, and Archbishop's Lanfranc and Winchelsey. The body of the chapel was divied into a nave on the south and an aisle probably, these being separated by piers, possibly carrying an arcade. The original entrance to the building was probably by way of a door at the east end of the north aisle. A second door was added later to the north wall at the east end. A third doorway was located at the west end of the north wall. The main access to the chapel was from an open yard to the north Almonry Yard (Mint Yard), itself being accessed via a gateway from The Borough.

Documentary evidence suggests that a hall existed at the west end of the chapel, where the six priests dined at a common table.

Upon the Dissolution of the Priory in 1540, the chapel became Royal property. In 1557 in was given by Queen Mary toArchbishop Cardinal Pole, on his death in 1558 it was leased to the Dean and Chapter and in 1573 it became a school room and dormitory for the King's School. In 1859 the King's School had expanded all over much of the north-west of the Priory grounds and the old dilapidated chapel was demolished down to its foundations.

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

Bennett, P., 1980, The Mint Yard Site (Article in serial). SKE30219.

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

Sources and further reading