Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The site of the Norman granary of the Priory was on the north side of Green Court. Built c. 1070-1090, documents dated 1303-17 mention 'Novum Granarium in the bracino', or the new granary in the brewhouse or malthouse range, suggesting that it was re-built at this time. After the Dissolution of 1538, the former granary became the new Dean's stables.

Monument Types

• GRANARY (Medieval - 1070 AD? to 1538 AD)

Full description

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The Forrens Gate House is located on the eastern end of a the western part of a long rectangular range of building, with a high pitched roof. The passage under this gatehouse divides the building into two unequal parts. These are clearly shown on Prior Wibert's Plan of the Priory's Waterworks dated c. 1165, situated on the north side of Green Court and are thus of Norman date.

The western portion is labelled Bracinum, or Brewhouse; the eastern portion is labelled the 'Pistrinum', or Bakehouse, the Stables are attached to its eastern end and the Gatehouse immediately east of this adjoining the Granium (Granary) further east. Documents dated 1303-17 naming 'nova granarium' suggest that the granary was re-built during this time

In Prior Chillenden's list, under Repairs in the Curia' are found 1390-1411 'Reparacio domus bracini', or repairs of the Brewhouse, and Granarium, the Pistrinum does not appear in these entries, but the whole building west of the gateway is included in the term 'Domus bracini'. The building was in Decorated style on the whole, but also has Perpendicular insertions and repairs. The Forrens Gate, named after a tower nearby in the City Wall, probably dates to the work of Prior Chillenden I.e. 1390-1411. The gatehouse is about 25 feet wide, has four-centred arch, with continuous moulding of the same section as at the western end, and a small pointed postern arch at the side. Its Gate Hall is not vaulted, and above is a chamber with an ordinary square small Perpendicular window of two lights. Between the gatehouse and the Brewhouse/Bakery a stableblock was added making the the whole range continuous. The Stable block also of 1396-1411 date is square shaped and about 28 feet square. The new granary shared its west wall with the gate house.

The building range remained in use as the Priory's Brewhouse, Bakehouse, Granary, Gatehouse and Stable up until the Dissolution, when they were assigned to the Dean, and described as 'all the Brewhouse and Bakehouse, and all other houses unto the Dean's Stable, and the Gatehouse there next to his stables'. The Stables were next to the former Norman Granarium but also occupied the later granary building.

The site of the Norman granary of the Priory was on the north side of Green Court. Built c. 1070-1090, it is shown on Prior Wibert's Plan of the Cathedral waterworks dated c. 1165, as a square/rectangular structure situated to the east of the Brewhouse and Bakehouse range. The space between the granary and bakehouse was later infilled by the construction of Forrens Gate. Documents dated 1303-17 mention 'Novum Granarium in the bracino', or the new granary in the brewhouse or malthouse range, suggesting that it was re-built at this time. Between 1390 and 1411, further documents record that the granary was repaired.

After the Dissolution of 1538, the former granary became the new Dean's stables.

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