Priory Gatehouse, Including East Bay Of Gatehouse

The Priory Gatehouse, including the east bay of the gatehouse, is a former priory gatehouse now serving as an exhibition hall. It likely dates from the 14th century and was converted into a school in 1624, as indicated by the date of the gable-end windows. The building is constructed of stone rubble with ashlar dressings and has a slate roof. It is a four-storey rectangular structure featuring a stair turret on the east side and a vaulted passage leading to Cavendish Street.

The south facade showcases a chamfered archway with a top frieze. To the left of the archway, there is a small-paned bow window, accompanied by a small-paned casement on the first floor, which is part of a cottage. The second floor features a two-light single-chamfered-mullioned window with cusped pointed heads. Above the archway is a niche with a straight head and moulded surround. The north facade has a similar two-light window, but with a transom, along with three slots. The returns display cusped lights, while the gables are adorned with four-light single chamfered mullioned windows that have two upper lights over transoms; the eastern window is a 20th-century reconstruction.

Inside, the passageway has a groin vault on the south side and a tunnel vault on the north side. The west side of the passage includes two entrances, one featuring an ogee head, and a large window to the left with small-paned fixed glazing and an opening light. The east side provides access to the exhibition hall.

The interior features a winding stair around a rubble newel leading to the second and third floors, although the third floor has been removed, leaving an entrance and a wide ledge within the wall thickness. The roof consists of collar rafters, some with lower collars. The entrance on the second floor has an ogee head and a six-panel door, while a niche to the left has a cusped ogee head. The two-light windows include window seats, and the north side has a store within the wall thickness, accessed by a wide-boarded door. The west side features a fireplace with elements of medieval masonry, including corbel heads, and an entrance to a small room on the left has a two-fielded-panel door.

The Gatehouse is the only secular building remaining from Cartmel Priory and served as a school from 1624 to 1790. It is currently owned by the National Trust.