Priory Gatehouse

CORNWORTHY SX85NW CORNWORTHY 6/82 Priory Gatehouse 9.2.61

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Gatehouse of Augustinian priory. Circa 1400 gatehouse of the priory of Augustinian nuns which was founded here between 1205 and 1238. Dressed shale rubble with granite dressings. Now roofless but with stone vaulted carriageway Plan: The circa 1400 gatehouse is all that survives above ground of the early C13 priory, although there are distinct remains of walls to the south east. The outer side of the gatehouse faces west. The main carriageway to the right and a smaller footway through to the left of the carriageway. Towards the back on the right hand side there is a stair turret, entered from inside the main carriageway. There is a garderobe in the right hand front corner (south west) of the gatehouse. The walls of the chamber above the archways rise to gables at either side, the upper courses of which have fallen. There was formerly a lower range on the left (north) side and an adjoining wall on the right hand side at the front (south west). Exterior: The west front has a large carriageway to the right with dressed slate chamfered joists and a moulded granite 4-centred arch on moulder corbels at the springing. Above the carriageway a small niche with an unmoulded 3-centred granite head. To left of the west front the footway has a chamfered shale round arch and a loop above to the right. The opposite inside east elevation is similar but in reverse and without the niche and loop, although there is a small loop to the left of the carriageway. The south side has partly fallen. The doorway at the top of the turret to the first floor chamber is now exposed to the exterior. The north sided wall shows signs of the former lower range from which there is a squint to the footway. All the exterior walls have putlog holes. Interior: The carriageway a stone vault with chamfered granite transverse and longitudinal ribs, like a wagon roof, and a moulded granite wall plate and fleuron bosses. The footway has a quadripartite vault with granite ribs and carved bosses. The doorway inside the carriageway to the stair turret has a moulded granite 2-centred arch with cusped spandrels; and a stone newel stair. The garderobe to the first floor chamber has a rectangular shaft. Scheduled Ancient Monument No. 409

Listing NGR: SX8218055601