Kirkham Priory

Kirkham Priory is an Augustinian priory founded by Walter L'Espec between 1122 and 1130. The buildings date from the mid 12th century to the 15th century and are constructed from sandstone and limestone ashlar and rubble. The site includes the church and associated monastic buildings to the south, along with a detached gatehouse to the northwest.

The east wall of the church, which is from the 13th century, survives nearly to full height and features a tall shafted lancet with stiff leaf capitals. Among the monastic buildings, significant remains include parts of the cloister, which has a fine 13th-century lavatorium and a re-sited Norman portal, as well as the refectory and infirmary. The west range contains a 6-bay arcade and a passage with a sexpartite vault to the north.

The late 13th-century gatehouse is the most complete structure, standing two storeys tall and featuring two first-floor windows. It has a wide arch with filleted roll moulding and a gabled crocketed hood-mould that encloses a trefoiled niche. Sculptures of Saint George and the Dragon are located to the left, and David and Goliath to the right, each under a small canopy, with pairs of shields above each group.

The first floor includes a vesica with ballflower decoration that contains a figure of Christ, flanked by figures of Saint Philip and Saint Bartholomew in trefoiled niches below. This area is also adorned with 2-light windows that have blind quatrefoil panels at the base and Kentish trefoil tracery. The outer bays feature unfilled statue niches, and five continuous crocketed gables form a hood-mould over the first-floor features. Additional decorative elements include a stiff-leaf frieze, a panelled parapet, and a pinnacled buttress to the right. The site is scheduled as an Ancient Monument.