St Marys Abbey Remains Hospitium And Watergate

The remains of a 14th-century hospitium (guesthouse) and a watergate, originally associated with St Mary's Abbey, are now part of the Yorkshire Museum. The hospitium’s lower storey dates to the 14th century, with an upper storey added in the 15th century, and both were partially reconstructed and heavily restored in the 1930s. A gateway, likely dating from around 1500, is also present. The structure incorporates reused magnesian limestone and timber framing with rendered infilling, covered by a plain tile roof.

The hospitium has a six-bay front, with visible timber framing on the hall level. The lower level is a six-bay aisled undercroft, with a rebuilt double-chamfered doorway containing plank doors with iron strap hinges. The undercroft windows are single slits in chamfered openings on the left and two-light openings on the right. A reconstructed external staircase leads to the hall level, which has four-light windows. The river frontage mirrors the main front. On the left return, the undercroft has slit windows. Timber mullions are used in the hall windows, while the undercroft windows retain chamfered stone mullions.

The watergate is integrated into a wall approximately 8 metres long and 6.5 to 7.5 metres high. It features a two-centred cart arch with moulded and chamfered orders and a smaller footgate to the left. A decayed square-headed window opening is further to the left. Above are two square-headed windows with trefoiled lights, one of which is now fragmentary. Internally, two colonnades of octagonal columns with moulded bases and capitals support the hall floor. The site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.