Chisenbury Priory

Chisenbury Priory is a large house set in its own grounds, originally built in the late 17th century, with a front dating from the mid-18th century, marked by the date 1767 and the initials of Williams Grove on the rainwater heads. The structure is made of rendered flint and flint-laced clunch, with a brick facade featuring limestone raised quoins. It has tile and lead roofs and is designed in a 'U'-plan with two storeys and attics. The east wing, known as the Justice Room, may have been added slightly later. The central block includes a through passage and features stone-mullioned and transomed windows. The Justice Room boasts a fine doorcase with a pediment and consoles leading to a small courtyard, dating from the late 17th to early 18th century, which includes a suspended bell. The west wing was restored in 1886, including the renewal of the main first-floor window. The 18th-century facade is symmetrical with five bays, a central pedimented doorcase, and a six-panelled door. The ground floor windows are 12-pane sashes set in stone architraves, with alternating segmental and triangular pediments and a pulvinating frieze. The upper windows also have 12-pane sashes, and the facade has been extended to create a third storey. The architraves rest on bracketed sills, with the central window featuring a Gibbs surround and a radial keyed round head. The cornice and parapet are adorned with large central and terminal wreathed urns. The rainwater heads, dated, may be from 20 to 30 years later than the facade. The building has 17th-century diamond-set brick shafted paired stacks. Inside, the west rear wing contains oak panelling and a fine plaster ceiling, likely from the 17th century. There is a staircase to the attic, which includes a panelled attic room from the same period. All rooms feature varied cornices, with a modillion cornice in the hall. The front rooms are panelled and have 19th-century ceilings in a late 18th-century style. The Justice Room and the front ground floor room suffered severe fire damage around 1980. The roof has been renewed, and restoration was ongoing in 1985. This building is located on or near the site of a cell of the Abbey of Bec Hellouin, founded in 1112, although no evidence of the abbey remains today. The last court was held in the Justice Room in 1922.