Monument Type(s):

• BENEDICTINE MONASTERY (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)
• PRIORY (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)
• GATEHOUSE (14th century to Early 20th century (pre-war) - 1300 AD? to 1913 AD)
• WALL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1901 AD)

Summary

A gatehouse of Benedictine Priory, 12th century with 17th century upper storey, which is protected by Grade II* Listing.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA4813 - 1992 RCHME Building Survey, Priory Gatehouse, Bromfield
• ESA4814 - 1992 WB on Repairs and Conversion of Priory Gatehouse, Bromfield by SCCAS
• ESA4815 - 1992 Building Report on Priory Gatehouse, Bromfield by CHAU

Description

Gatehouse of Benedictine Priory. C12 with C17 upper storey. Rubble, timber frame with brick; C20 plain tile roof; brick composite ridge stack. 2 storeys; 3 window range: central canted oriel with mullion and transom metal lattice lights, under small gable with simple finial; flanked by two 2 light mullions with metal lattice glazing. Deep central arch with drip course over, flanked by 2 plain buttresses. Rear: pair of 2 light oak mullion windows with metal lattice glazing, over central opening; flanked by similar lights, that to left without glazing. Central opening under oak lintel, flanked by wide buttresses; flanked by restored oak and sandstone mullions under shouldered drip course and to right, early C20 plank door with wide lattice light. Central passage has plastered ceiling, plank doors with strap hinges. Left returned side has 2 light mullion window with metal lattice glazing, to ground floor. Right returned side: 1st floor has lath and plaster infill; three 2 light mullions, one with simple hood on consoles. C20 barge boards and spike finials <2>

Building survey carried out at the Priory Gatehouse, Bromfield in January 1992 by RCHME. The Priory Gatehouse is a three storey building constructed in red sandstone rubble with a timber framed top storey. It is orientated north-east, south-west. The earliest identified phase is a stone gatehouse built for the Benedictine Priory of Bromfield probably dating to the 14th century. After the dissolution, the priory was acquired by Charles Foxe, who built a substantial house adjoining the church. The timber framed top storey of the gatehouse seems to be contemporary with this work. In the late 18th or early 19th century, the south end of the gatehouse was converted into a three storey cottage. In the late 19th century the gatehouse was extensively restored. <6>

Archaeological watching brief carried out between May and September 1992 in conjunction with the repair and conversion of the Priory gatehouse, Bromfield. The partially surviving stone floor surface to the ground floor room on the south side of the gatehouse was shown to pre-date the late 18th century and could possibly date to the original construction of the gatehouse. The area to the immediate rear of the south side of the gatehouse was shown to have suffered extensive disturbance due to the installation of previous service trenches and recent building activity. No archaeological features of any significance were noted. The existence of two well preserved road surfaces was demonstrated as leading form the central gateway at both its front and rear. Although no dating evidence for these road surfaces was recovered, they should nevertheless be regarded as an integral part of the gatehouse. <7>

Building Report carried out in conjunction with the renovation and conversion of the gatehouse, Bromfield into holiday accommodation. The priory Gatehouse at Bromfield is a fairly complex multi-period structure that dates from the early to mid 14th century and was remodelled in the late 16th century. The post medieval timber framing of its upper storey is fairly remarkable for its date, not for its architectural merit but for the oddities of its construction – the lack of comprehensive pegging and the most unusual form of its roof trusses. The vary fact that the construction is so unusual is enough to add doubt to any suggested date of the fabric, as it simply does not seem to have and regional precedent. Only an object, scientific analysis of the fabric – such as dendrochronology - would remove doubts about the validity of the dating. Its more recent career as a school led to more alterations and additions. <8>

The gatehouse has a lower stage that is stone built with a two-centred arched entrance. This is probably early C14, but the upper stage is timber-framed, three-bayed, with close-studding and long straight tension bracing and is probably mid-C15. <13>

Shropshire Archives hold a watercolour of Bromfield Priory Gatehouse (Reference
6001/372/2/53), by Reverend Edward Williams, dated to 1790. A small-scale thumbnail can be found via their online catalogue: https://www.shropshirearchives.org.uk/collections/getrecord/CCA_X6001_19_372B_53. <14>

Sources

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.