The Priory's Bakehouse is located within the eastern end of the western section of a long rectangular range of building, with a high pitched roof, and a gatehouse (Forrens gate) on its eastern side. 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, and are thus of Norman date.

The western portion is labelled Bracinum, or Brewhouse; the eastern portion is labelled the 'Pistrinum', or Bakehouse. The Bakehouse section measures some 60 feet long E-W by approximately 38 feet wide N-S. To the exterior are a series of buttresses.

The projecting porch is of Prior Eastry's work and relates to known additions made to the Brewhouse block in 1317, which included a porch and chimney. In Prior Chillenden's list, under Repairs in the Curia' are found 1390-1411 'Reparacio domus bracini', or repairs of the Brewhouse, 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 building remained in use as the Priory's Brewhouse and Bakehouse 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 on the site of the former Norman Granarium.

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.