Hodsock Priory Gatehouse And Bridge

Hodsock Priory Gatehouse and Bridge

A gatehouse and bridge of early 16th-century date with later restorations. The gatehouse is constructed in red brick with ashlar dressings and some blue brick diaper patterning.

The east front presents three storeys plus basement across three bays, flanked by single protruding square turrets with ashlar quoins, slightly higher than the main structure. Two embattled octagonal turrets project from the rear. A tiled roof with a single red brick stack sits above stone-coped parapets. A stone band runs beneath the parapets, with a slightly damaged Lombard frieze below the central three bays. The right side stands on a chamfered ashlar plinth.

The basement on the left contains a later single casement with three arched lights and lead panes under a flat head with ashlar quoin surround. The principal entrance is a central double-chamfered ashlar arch with double wooden gates, flanked by single casements each with two arched lights with lead panes under flat heads and irregular flush ashlar quoin surrounds. Above are two similar lights and surrounds, the right being fixed, and on the top floor two similar fixed lights and surrounds with a single central, larger three-light fixed light and matching surround. Each turret contains five small rectangular openings.

The west side comprises three storeys and three bays, flanked by single protruding turrets with stone-coped embattled parapets. The central three bays have stone-coped parapets. Two raised stone bands and a Lombard frieze run below the parapets, echoing the east front. A central archway is flanked by similar single two-light casements, with two similar casements above and a single off-centre casement on the top floor.

The right turret is set on an ashlar plinth and is narrower than the left. It contains six small rectangular openings and two arched fixed lights with lead panes, one with ashlar arch over and both with red brick hood moulds. The left turret stands on a stone plinth and features an arched doorway, accessed by three steps, under a chamfered ashlar arch with wooden door. It contains eight rectangular openings, a single lozenge-shaped quatrefoil opening, and two arched fixed lights. The lower light sits under a segmental brick hood mould; the other under a segmental ashlar arch with ashlar surround.

The north and south sides display irregular facades.

Interior

Each western turret contains a single newel staircase, one with stone treads and one with wooden treads, leading to the second-floor room which extends the full length of the building. This room features a queen-strut roof with remains of decorative plasterwork on some walls. A single fireplace on the west side has cable moulding running over it and extending around the dado. The east wall carries decorative vertical strips linked at lintel level by arched bands of cable moulding. A further fireplace is positioned on the south wall. The central east window contains stained glass inscribed "Glory To God On Earth Peace, Goodwill Toward Men".

Bridge

The bridge spans a dry moat and dates to the 16th century with 18th and 19th-century restoration. It is constructed of ashlar, dressed coursed rubble, and red brick. The structure has a chamfered ashlar base and three red brick arches with brick and dressed coursed rubble above. The ashlar-coped parapet shows evidence of removed railings.