Priory Church

KEWSTOKE C.P. WOODSPRING PRIORY ST 36 NW

1/1 Priory Church [formerly listed as 9.2.61 Woodspring Priory (former Church of The Holy Trinity, St Mary and Thomas a Becket)]

G.V. I

Priory Church, partially converted to house. C15 and early C16. Ashlar, slate nave roof, leaded tower roof. Nave, crossing tower, north aisle. Nave of two bays, crossing of one. West front, gabled and flanked by octagonal turrets clearly shows blocked west window, pierced now by two 3-light mullioned windows. Remains of 3 mutilated effigies around window. To south, nave window hood moulds remain, windows blocked, 2-light windows inserted, that to west removed during C20 restoration, not at time of survey, replaced, 3-light cross windows, inserted below. Perpendicular crossing window restored in 1970. Quatrefoil pierced parapet. At east, blocked chancel arch has inserted door and window above. Above crossing, tower shows 2 stages; diagonal buttresses with setbacks terminate in crocketed attached pinnacles; first stage has 3-light perpendicular windows to north and south; second stage has 3-light mullion and transom perpendicular windows under dripmoulds on all sides; they are blank below transom, pierced above. The quatrefoil parapet dates from the restoration of 1827. North aisle, of 3 bays, buttresses between of early C16 build; windows as south nave blocked, lights inserted for domestic occupation; slate roof to eaves now lacking parapet. Interior; nave sub-divided as domestic apartments, ground floor has Gothic plasterwork and fittings. Crossing has incomplete early C19 fan-vault on panelled piers with attached shafts; fragmentary evidence of pulpitum. North aisle has 3 bay arcade unchamfered below for screen, only crossing arch now open others blocked by domestic apartments; western bay still has upper rooms, other insertion now removed and evidenced by joist recesses and windows. Source: Woodspring Priory, D.J. Tomalin, 1974.

Listing NGR: ST3435566176