Prior'S Manse

SP 0937 BROADWAY CP HIGH STREET (north side) 8/46 Prior's Manse 30.7.59 GV II* House. Early C14 with C17 alterations. Restored 1958. Limestone rubble with stone slate roof. Comprises a central hall with a cross-wing at the left (west), and a service end at the right extended forwards to form a second cross-wing in the C17. Two storeys. The C17 mullioned windows are rebated and chamfered. The left-hand cross-wing has a 2-light window on each floor, and a coped gable. The hall has a window of four lights, one of one light, and two dormers. At the right is a pointed doorway of early C14 type, with sunk quadrant moulding and a keel-moulded hood. The right- hand cross-wing has a window of four lights on the ground floor and one of three lights on the first floor. Chimneys to right of left-hand wing, on main ridge in line with apex of right-hand wing, and forward of ridge to left of doorway. The right-hand (east) wall of the left-hand cross-wing has a blocked chamfered doorway with pointed head, and a window under the eaves. The left-hand wall has two 3-light windows and two attic dormers. Rear wall of hall has doorway similar to the one in the front wall, at opposite end of cross-passage. Interior: hall range has parts of three cruck-trusses visible. On the ground floor at the rear of the building the feet of blades to the east and west of the cross-passage can be seen; in the room to the west part of the base of a third truss can be seen. On the first floor this truss is ceiled at collar level. The truss to the west of the cross-passage has curved braces to the collar. The truss to the east has a lap-jointed collar of lighter scantling. Some curved wind-braces are visible. On the ground floor the ceiling inserted into the hall has deeply-moulded beams. A stone fireplace has a re-cut inscription which includes the words: "By Mee Richarde Bocknole ... 168-". The ceiling of the early cross-wing has wide joists laid flat. A stone fireplace is moulded and has a canted head. On the first floor the two trusses visible in this wing have arch-braced collars. Parts of two wall posts are uncovered, suggesting that the wing was at least partly timber-framed. The lack of evidence for wall-framing in the hall range together with the early date of the stone doorways to the cross-passage, makes it likely that this has always had stone walls.

Listing NGR: SP0994737556