Monument record TR 15 NE 1404 - Original West Gate, St. Augustine's Abbey

Summary

The Original West Gate situated on the west side of the Abbey in Monastery Street and the adjacent Guest Hall appears to have been built when the principal gates and the boundary wall along the western road frontage were constructed in the early 13th century, as part of Abbot Hugh I of Fleury's works of 1099-1124.

Location

Grid reference Centred TR 1538 5781 (12m by 11m)
Map sheet TR15NE
County KENT
District CANTERBURY, KENT
Civil Parish CANTERBURY, CANTERBURY, KENT

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

The Original West Gate situated on the west side of the Abbey in Monastery Street and the adjacent Guest Hall appears to have been built when the principal gates and the boundary wall along the western road frontage were constructed in the early 13th century, as part of Abbot Hugh I of Fleury's works of 1099-1124.

The Hall built over two floors, was rectangular in shape on a long N-S axis fronting Monastery Street, measuring about 80 feet long by about 30 feet wide. Access to the Guest Hall from outside the precincts was via the Original Gateway which was built at the same time and situated at the south-west corner of the Guest Hall. The Gate had a chapel above it. Another door at the south-east corner of the Hall led into the great Court within the precincts to the east.

Later, during the early 14th century, c. 1300-1309 a new gate the 'Great Gate' also known as Fyndoin's gate, was built 100 feet further to the north, onto the north end of the Guest Hall, incorporating part of the hall as a possible porters lodge or gate lodge. Meanwhile the earlier original gateway was closed and blocked up.

The Structure survives still and was heavilly restored in the 19th century


Tatton-Brown, T., 1980, St Augustine's Abbey (Article in serial). SKE29810.

Tatton-Brown, T., 1985, Three great Benedictine houses in Kent: their buildings and topography (Article in serial). SWX7319.

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

Sources/Archives (3)

  • --- Article in serial: Tatton-Brown, T.. 1980. St Augustine's Abbey.
  • --- Monograph: Roebuck, J.. 2002. St. Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury.
  • --- Article in serial: Tatton-Brown, T.. 1985. Three great Benedictine houses in Kent: their buildings and topography. 100, pages 171-88.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

  • Non-Intrusive Event: Guest Hall, St Augustine's Abbey Gate (Ref: CAT: 221) (EKE13447)

Record last edited

Jan 13 2015 2:05PM