Administration Building At Monk Bretton Priory

SE30NE BARNSLEY ABBEY LANE

(east side), Cundy Cross 4/2 Administration building at 6.2.52 Monk Bretton Priory (formerly listed under Remains of Monk Bretton Priory) GV I Administration building, part of Monk Bretton Priory Remains (q.v.). Late C13 or early C14, re-roofed in 1931. Squared, coursed rubble, Welsh slate roofs. Rectangular plan. Two storeys. West side: quoins. Entrance to left with chamfered quoined surround and later cambered head. Two narrow chamfered lights to right. Continuous dripmould over ground floor. 1st floor: 3-light double-chamfered windows to left and right of a central doorway with chamfered quoined surround, all C17. 2-span roof. Rear: similar to front, with entrance to right and three 3-light double-chamfered windows to 1st floor. The left and right returns have 4 narrow ground-floor lights and 2 gables.

Interior: 4 bays, divided by 3 octagonal monolithic stone piers with good moulded bases and capitals. These support a single longitudinal beam which is braced to the gable ends. A second tier of wooden piers support the valley of the roofs. Cross-beams braced to the front and back walls formerly supported the 1st floor. The ground-floor wall is considerably thicker that that of the 1st floor. Fireplace in front wall, ground floor, but no chimney.

This building is traditionally known as the guest house but,because of the lack of fireplaces and garderobes, this is thought unlikely and that it was used for the administration of the priory's estates, the upper floor perhaps being used as a manorial courtroom.

The monastery of St. Mary Magdalen was founded c1154 for the Monks of the Order of Cluny and colonised from La Charité-sur-Loire. It became Benedictine in 1281. After the Dissolution in 1538 the priory passed through various hands until acquired by Barnsley Borough who, in 1932, placed the ruins in the care of the state. Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Dr. J. W. Walker, The Priory of St. Mary Magdalen, Yorkshire Archaeological Society, 1926.

Rose Graham and R. Gilyard-Beer, Monk Bretton Priory, Yorkshire. D. of E. Official Handbook, 1966.

N. Pevsner, The Buildings of England, 1967.

Listing NGR: SE3730206590