Cathedral Cloister Buildings

TQ 7468 NW ROCHESTER THE PRECINCT 7/8 gateway to Precinct (see College Yard)

TQ 7468 ROCHESTER THE PRECINCT

9/188 Cathedral Cloister Buildings Formerly listed as College Green) 24-10-50 GV I

Ruins of claustral buildings of the cathedral priory of Christ and the BVM (see ref 7 and 9/193; also the Cloister Gate, ref 9/189). Mostly C12, but with early C13 modifications; the cloister is unusual in that it adjoins the S parts of the E end of the cathedral (rather than the S nave aisle and main transept). Mainly ragstone. little survives above ground level of the S range except the Cloister Gate (ref 1/189). To the S, the site of the Refectory, with round-headed openings and (immediately being) a tiny 2-bay vaulted C13 Lavatorium entered through a pointed arch with a cusped inner order, decorated with dog-tooth; shafts keeled. (These remains and the associated walling which may incorporate Roman materials, lie beneath and partly underpin the C19 Garth and Cloister Houses, see rafts 9/191 and 9/192). to the E, intersecting blank arcading, doorway to former Dormitory middle third of C12, with Tournai marble shafts (a great rarity in England) and a weathered relief of the Sacrifice of Isaac. To the left tripartite entrance to the Chapter House with lancets above connected by blind niches. Chapter House rectangular on plan, intersecting wall arcading with some C15 alterations. the Chapter House is connected to the King's School (ref 9/190). for detailed description and evaluation see Newman, West Kent and the Weald, Buildings of England (2nd ed, 1980 reprint) pp 486-7)

Listing NGR: TQ7425768489