The Abbot's Porch

The Abbot's Porch is a Grade I listed structure located at Cerne Abbey, built under Abbot Thomas Sam between 1497 and 1509. The porch features ashlar stone walls, with dressed stone masonry on the south face and brick facing on the upper part of the east face, topped by a slate roof. It stands three storeys high and includes a moulded plinth, diagonal buttresses with set-offs, and a rebuilt embattled parapet.

The outer entrance showcases heavily moulded jambs and a three-centred arch with a label and beast-stops. Above the entrance is a two-storeyed canted oriel, supported by moulded corbelling, featuring three lights on the front face and one on each return. The windows have cinquefoiled ogee lights with mouchettes, which have been rebuilt at the front. At the corners, standards support angels, and below the oriel, there is a range of two, four, and two shields of arms set in quatrefoils, with similar designs between the first and second floor windows. The second floor windows are adorned with cinquefoil lights in four-centred heads, complete with bowtells to the mullions.

Inside the porch passage, there is a damaged fan-vaulted roof with cones springing from moulded corbels, although much of the box-work has been destroyed, and the north cone is very damp. Attached to the porch is the Porter's Lodging, which is two storeys high and features a pent roof. The ground floor is accessed through a doorway from the stair-turret on the east side, and the west wall includes a fireplace and a single-light window.