Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

1971 survey map only, not included in 1973 list due to higher status as a SAM.

Monument Types

• DORMITORY (Now, Medieval to Unknown - 1079 AD)

Full description

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The building to the north-east of the Great Cloister between the modern library, which occupies three of its southernmost bays, and the Larder Gate which bounds the Great Court, was formerly the Great Dorter, or dormitory was built by Lanfranc before the time of his death in 1089, perhaps as early as 1079, to sleep up to 150 monks. It was so well built and of staggering size that it never needed to be replaced. The dormitory building, which overlay a Warming House for the monks, measured 148 feet by 78 feet overall, divided lengthwise by a central wall, making three bays east of it. In the other direction it ran for twelve bays. It survived largely intact until 1548 when it was partially demolished. Only the west elevation and the north-east corner survive to any height. Most of the undercroft has been destroyed although a small area in the north-east corner the groin-vault of three bays is intact, with unmoulded transverse arches, similar arches are in the cross wall. The north-east angle of the dormitory itself survives with one big window each way, a roll round the rere-arch, and shafts with block capitals. After the Dissolution two private houses were built over the vaults, which were converted into cellars. A lodging for lay clerks was established at the south end of the Dormitory, on the site of the modern library. Much of the fabric now visible has been substantially repaired and rebuilt. Many of the arcade bases now visible were rebuilt in recent time from materials recovered from demolition levels on the site in the post-war period.

In 1879 the former dormitory, which was intact still, was partly converted into a library, however, in 1942 enemy bombing destroyed most of this great building, leaving only parts of the west side standing. In 1953 it was rebuilt over three storeys, with the original west wall of Lanfranc's dormitory retained in it, and it once again houses the Cathedral Library and Archives.

Mostly destroyed by enemy bombing in 1942, what survives is part of its western side. Rising above the cloister's east walk, with windows in shafted arcading; and more important, most of the shafts which supported the undercroft vault. The shafts are carved with big patterns, zigzag, spirals, or lozenges within lozenges.

John Newman, 1969, The Buildings of England: North East and East Kent (Monograph). SKE7874.

Ingram Hill, D., 1976, Christ's Glorious Church, The Story of Canterbury Cathedral (Monograph). SKE30200.

<1> Austin, R., 1991, The Great Dorter (Article in serial). SKE29946.

Sources and further reading