Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The Second Dorter consisted of a long rectangular range of building, raised higher on a terrace, approximately 100 feet long E-W by at least 40 feet wide N-S, and some 25 feet high.

Monument Types

• DORMITORY (Medieval to Unknown - 1165 AD?)

Full description

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The Second Dorter (Dormitory) was built sometime after 1165 as it is not shown on Prior Wibert's Map dated c. 1165.

It consisted of a long rectangular range of building, raised higher on a terrace, approximately 100 feet long E-W by at least 40 feet wide N-S, and some 25 feet high. Standing parallel to and 6 feet south of the Necessarium, and connected, via doors, to the old Prior's Chambers to the east , with the Great Dormitory to the west. The space between the Great Dormitory and the Second Dormitory was some 20 feet and it was enclosed and roofed over above a vault to bring it up to the same level as the two Dormitory's and Necessarium. The north wall has a series of small round-arched recesses of Norman masonry sunk two feet into the wall, these were 5 feet wide and 6 feet high and their sills about 2 feet above the floor and lit by square-headed windows with transoms above. Some 10 to 12 recesses and as such cells are likely to have been provided.

The Dormitory was probably intended for the accommodation of those 'conventual officers' who were bound to sleep in the Dormitory.

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