DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6912#0025
CASTLE-ACRE PRIORY.
17
Besides the buildings already noticed, there were evidently others which may be
considered as detached offices, within the walled inclosure. These, I presume, were
an infirmary, a small chapel, the gate-house, barns, stables, &c. The infirmary ap-
pears to have been situated at a short distance north of the sacristry, where are
evident vestiges of some building ; though the walls are levelled. N. E. of this, at
the corner of the clausum, where two highways meet, and separated by one of them
from the parish churchyard, stands a small chapel, about 20 feet by 15, the east wall
of which exactly resembles the masonry of the west front of the prior's lodge, and is
therefore of the same age. It was probably dedicated to some favourite, saint, and
very judiciously placed here, to intercept the casual devotional offerings of way-
faring men, who might otherwise have carried them to some altar in the parish
church ; which contained several, being a spacious and handsome fabric, built by one
of the Earls Warren, of the Plantagenet line.
At the distance of one hundred and thirty yards northward from the north-west
corner of the church, and fronting the prior's lodge, stands the porter's lodge (36 by
24 feet.) It has a greater and a lesser arched gateway, and on the west a winding
staircase and a small void space. There appear to have been three chambers ; the
windows of which are square. On the north front are four shields; one of which
bears the arms of Earl Warren, and another those of Maltravers. It was, therefore,
erected in the time of the same Earl of Arundel who was living when a considerable
part of the prior's lodge was rebuilt.*
A little S. W. of it stand, about thirty-three yards of the north side and the whole
of the east end, of the old barn of the monastery. A modern addition extends a
good deal farther ; but the ancient barn, of which the chief part was in being twenty
years ago, much longer still. It contained eleven bays. None of the other ancient
farm-buildings remain.
About thirty yards south-west of the hostillery, was a large building ;f consisting
of a centre and two wings. The building on the north side was seventy-four yards
long and seven wide. Above it was a chamber or loft, having some small openings
* Blomefield (or perhaps Parkin) absurdly calls this building " a large and stately gate of free-stone." Its
dimensions I have given. Its materials are mostly flint; and it is indeed a very good specimen of the flint-masonry
of the age of Henrv VII. So very far is Blomefield, or his continuator, from accuracy in this matter, that the
architect seems to have even studiously avoided the use of any free-stone, as if to shew that he could do without it.
The arches, quoins, buttresses, and window-frames, are all of a very hard red brick, burned in the several shapes
required. In which circumstance the curiosity of this edifice consists.
t A small part of which is still in use, and large portions of its walls remain.
17
Besides the buildings already noticed, there were evidently others which may be
considered as detached offices, within the walled inclosure. These, I presume, were
an infirmary, a small chapel, the gate-house, barns, stables, &c. The infirmary ap-
pears to have been situated at a short distance north of the sacristry, where are
evident vestiges of some building ; though the walls are levelled. N. E. of this, at
the corner of the clausum, where two highways meet, and separated by one of them
from the parish churchyard, stands a small chapel, about 20 feet by 15, the east wall
of which exactly resembles the masonry of the west front of the prior's lodge, and is
therefore of the same age. It was probably dedicated to some favourite, saint, and
very judiciously placed here, to intercept the casual devotional offerings of way-
faring men, who might otherwise have carried them to some altar in the parish
church ; which contained several, being a spacious and handsome fabric, built by one
of the Earls Warren, of the Plantagenet line.
At the distance of one hundred and thirty yards northward from the north-west
corner of the church, and fronting the prior's lodge, stands the porter's lodge (36 by
24 feet.) It has a greater and a lesser arched gateway, and on the west a winding
staircase and a small void space. There appear to have been three chambers ; the
windows of which are square. On the north front are four shields; one of which
bears the arms of Earl Warren, and another those of Maltravers. It was, therefore,
erected in the time of the same Earl of Arundel who was living when a considerable
part of the prior's lodge was rebuilt.*
A little S. W. of it stand, about thirty-three yards of the north side and the whole
of the east end, of the old barn of the monastery. A modern addition extends a
good deal farther ; but the ancient barn, of which the chief part was in being twenty
years ago, much longer still. It contained eleven bays. None of the other ancient
farm-buildings remain.
About thirty yards south-west of the hostillery, was a large building ;f consisting
of a centre and two wings. The building on the north side was seventy-four yards
long and seven wide. Above it was a chamber or loft, having some small openings
* Blomefield (or perhaps Parkin) absurdly calls this building " a large and stately gate of free-stone." Its
dimensions I have given. Its materials are mostly flint; and it is indeed a very good specimen of the flint-masonry
of the age of Henrv VII. So very far is Blomefield, or his continuator, from accuracy in this matter, that the
architect seems to have even studiously avoided the use of any free-stone, as if to shew that he could do without it.
The arches, quoins, buttresses, and window-frames, are all of a very hard red brick, burned in the several shapes
required. In which circumstance the curiosity of this edifice consists.
t A small part of which is still in use, and large portions of its walls remain.