Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The general monastic buildings largely of late Saxon date, were replaced by a programme of re-building after the new Abbey Church was completed. It is believed that the Infirmary Hall and Chapel were built or at least completed between 1126 and 1151 by Abbot Hugh of Trottiscliffe.

Monument Types

• GREAT HALL (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1126 AD to 1541 AD)

Full description

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The general monastic buildings largely of late Saxon date, were replaced by a programme of re-building after the new Abbey Church was completed. It is believed that the Infirmary Hall and Chapel were built or at least completed between 1126 and 1151 by Abbot Hugh of Trottiscliffe , who was originally a monk from Rochester.

The Infirmary is where sick and elderly monks, and some local benefactors were cared for. The Infirmary Hall was a large rectangular shaped building about 105 feet long N-S by about 45 feet wide E-W. The main part of the Hall lay on the west side whilst individual cubicles or cells appear to have been placed along the eastern side. A doorway at the south-east corner led into the Infirmary Chapel, whilst other doorways led to the dormitory and cloisters.

The building was repaired extensively under Abott Roger II of Chichester (1253-72) and finished by Abbot Nicholas Thorne 1273-83. In 1541, soon after the Dissolution in 1538, the Infirmary was demolished.

Tatton-Brown, T., 1985, Three Great Benedictine Houses in Kent: Their Buildings & Topography (Article in serial). SKE8094.

Sherlock, D. & Woods, B. A., 1988, St. Augustine's Abbey: Report on Excavations, 1960-78 (Monograph). SKE30287.

Roebuck, J., 2002, St. Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury (Monograph). SKE30293.

Sources and further reading