Enclosing Wall & Gateway on N.Side of rear yard of Cloister Hall

This is an early 19th-century house and outbuilding, built over the vaulted undercroft of the 14th-century East wing of St Mary’s College. The undercrofts also extend behind the house and westward, with a smaller range extending towards the river. The undercrofts are constructed with rough barrel vaulting, likely consisting of three vaults in line beneath the house and outbuilding. Two are parallel behind the house, while the configuration beneath a high, raised platform extending to the river is uncertain. This platform provides access to a tower, which may mark the southern end of the former West wing.

Cloister Hall itself is a two-story, three-window house built of roughcast rubble stone with a slate eaves roof and stone end stacks. It features 12-pane sash windows and a central six-panel front door with four fielded panels. The double flight of steps to the front door was rebuilt after 1981. A low rubble garden wall sweeps upwards to central ashlar piers flanking the steps. A similar pier is on the right, and the wall continues as a retaining wall to the north-east corner of the outbuilding. A basement entrance leads to the undercrofts at the south end with stone steps.

The outbuilding to the north is two stories in height on the north side and west end, one story on the south and east, being built over vaults. It is constructed of rubble stone with a slate roof and a high rubble stack on the east side. A small projecting structure at the north-east angle incorporates a gargoyle. The north side has a door to the vault and a window above. The west front has a window above and a large flight of outside steps providing access to a footpath between the building and the house. A cartshed is located beneath the footpath. The lower part of the outbuilding was not inspected and may be vaulted.

Attached to the north-west angle of the outbuilding is a large stone, Tudor-arched gateway leading to the yard, likely dating to the early 19th century. It includes an inner rebate for doors and is situated on the site of a former college gateway marked on a 1720 map. It has an inner segmental arch. A thinner and lower wall extends beyond the gateway towards the river bank at Cloister Bridge.

Behind the house are substantial remains of undercrofts belonging to the crosswing, west wing, and service wing of the college. These are enclosed by high rubble stone walls, supporting a grassed terrace with vaulted undercrofts beneath the crosswing and external steps leading up. The undercrofts of the west wing and the range running towards the river are not accessible.

The site, including the undercrofts, is a Scheduled Ancient Monument (Pe 445).