Description from record TQ 76 NW 74:
(TQ 74206845) Prior's Gate (N.R.) (1)

CATHEDRAL PRECINCTS I Prior's Gate C15 gateway. Rubble walls with dressed stone to moulded arches. Within is a ribbed vault beneath an upper room which is entered from a stair turret set in one corner and with an extended top. (2)

Additional bibliography. (3)(4)

ROCHESTER THE PRECINCT Prior's Gate. South gate into the Cathedral and Priory precincts. Probably 1344 when this stretch of wall was built. Random rubble ragstone. [Full architectural description] LISTED GRADE I. (5)

The standing gate is of fifteenth century date, although it may have replaced an earlier (thirteenth or fourteenth century?) entrance. This theory is suggested by Alan Ward, based on personal observations he made of an excavation taking place below the Prior's gate, which failed to find the remains of the town wall below the fifteenth century gate [6].

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
ROCHESTER THE PRECINCT TQ 7468 SW 9/201 Priors Gate 24-10-50 GV I S gate into the cathedral and priory precincts. Probably 1344 when this stretch of wall was built. Random rubble ragstone. 2 storeys with NW stair turret; parapet with moulded string course, much eroded. Arches of 2 orders, the lower order 4- centred, the upper (with hood mould) segmental, the jambs chamfered with pyramid stops. Vault, the ribs with chamfer and roll moulding; eroded corbels. Original cusped lancet to S; renewed 2-light Decorated window to N. Doorway to turret which rises well above gateway parapet.
Listing NGR: TQ7420468450 (7)

<1> O.S. 1:2500 1970 (OS Card Reference). SKE47794.

<2> DOE(HHR)Dist. of City of Rochester, Kent. July 1969 6 (OS Card Reference). SKE41390.

<3> Bldgs of Eng West Kent and the Weald 1980 486 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE38079.

<4> Arch Cant 95 1979 19-36 (AC Morrison and D Williams) (OS Card Reference). SKE36206.

<5> DOE(HHR)Dist of Rochester upon Medway Kent, 2nd Dec 1991. 117 (OS Card Reference). SKE41337.

<6> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2004, An Archaeological Watching Brief along the line of the Southern Water Relief Drain, St. Margaret's Street, Rochester (Unpublished document). SKE12420.

<7> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.