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Monument details
| HER Number: | TR 15 NE 1245 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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| Name: | Infirmary Hall, Christchurch Priory |
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Summary
The Infirmary extends eastwards from the east wall of the Infirmary Cloister, and to the north of the east end of the cathedral. Immediately to the east is the Infirmary Chapel. The monastic Infirmary in some respects resembles the nave of a church, with side aisles, pier arches and clerestory windows above.
| Grid Reference: | TR 1516 5794 |
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| Map Sheet: | TR15NE |
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| Parish: | CANTERBURY, CANTERBURY, KENT |
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Monument Types
- BUILDING (Medieval to Unknown - 1165 AD?)
Full description
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The Infirmary extends eastwards from the east wall of the Infirmary Cloister, and to the north of the east end of the cathedral. Immediately to the east is the Infirmary Chapel. The monastic Infirmary in some respects resembles the nave of a church, with side aisles, pier arches and clerestory windows above. This is clearly shown on Prior Wibert's Plan of the Priory Waterworks dated c. 1165 where it is labelled 'Domus Infirmorum', of Infirmary hall, meaning literally 'House of the Sick and Infirm' The Distribution document shows that by the Dissolution it bore the name 'Long Hall'.
The Infirmary Hall is a large rectangular shaped building measuring 155 feet long E-W by 100 feet wide N-S. The Hall being 30 feet wide, flanked to the north and south by aisles each 16 feet wide, all run the full length of the building. A door at the centre of the east wall led into the Infirmary Chapel, whilst another to the west end led to the Infirmary Cloister. Either side of the central hall space the aisle were separated by Norman piers of plain cylindrical columns with scalloped capitals, and arches of two square edged orders formed by shallow plain sunk fillet on the face.
Under Prior Hathbrande (1338-70) a stone hall called 'Mensa Magistri Infirmatorii', or Table Hall was added on the north side at the east end of the Infirmary Hall.
Willis, R., 1868, 'The Architectural History of the Conventual Buildings of the Monastery of Christchurch in Canterbury' (Article in serial). SKE30206.
Blockley, K., Sparks, M. & Tatton-Brown, T., 1997, Canterbury Cathedral Nave, Archaeology, History and Architecture (Monograph). SKE29723.
Sources and further reading
| Cross-ref.
| Source description | | --- | Monograph: Blockley, K., Sparks, M. & Tatton-Brown, T.. 1997. Canterbury Cathedral Nave, Archaeology, History and Architecture. |
| --- | Article in serial: Willis, R.. 1868. 'The Architectural History of the Conventual Buildings of the Monastery of Christchurch in Canterbury'. |
