Wetheral Priory Gatehouse
| Wetheral Priory Gatehouse | |
|---|---|
| Wetheral, Cumbria, England | |
 The exterior of the gatehouse | |
  Wetheral Priory Gatehouse | |
| Coordinates | 54°52′47″N 2°49′50″W / 54.87971°N 2.83069°W |
| Site information | |
| Owner | English Heritage |
| Open to the public | Yes |
| Site history | |
| Built | 15th century |
| Materials | Red sandstone |
Wetheral Priory Gatehouse is a 15th-century stone
History
Wetheral Priory Gatehouse was probably built in the 15th century and formed the entrance to the
The gatehouse originally formed part of a range of buildings running along the side of the outer courtyard, and would have controlled access to the institution, as well as symbolising its power and status.[4] The Anglo-Scottish border was also still dangerous in the 15th century, and many monasteries in the area, like Wetheral, had protective fortifications.[5]
By the 16th century, the priory was in decline, but its closure came as a result of the
The gatehouse was later used as a
Architecture
English Heritage considers the building to be "the finest medieval gatehouse in Cumbria".
The ground floor includes a barrel vaulted entrance passageway and a
North-east of the gatehouse is a 23-metre (75 ft) medieval, red sandstone wall, 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in) high, probably originally the east wall of the priory's chapter house.[1] This medieval wall had four windows running along it, with a staircase at one end.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "List Entry", English Heritage, retrieved 15 February 2015
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^ "History and Research: Wetheral Priory Gatehouse", English Heritage, retrieved 15 February 2015
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link); Arnold, Howard & Litton 2004, p. 1 - ^ a b c J. Wilson (1905), "Houses of Benedictine monks: The priory of Wetheral", British History Online, pp. 184–189, retrieved 15 February 2015
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^ Emery 1996, p. 203; "History and Research: Wetheral Priory Gatehouse", English Heritage, retrieved 15 February 2015
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^ Harrison 2004, pp. 66–67, 73–87
- ^ Prescott 1897, p. xxxv
- ^ J. Wilson (1905), "Houses of Benedictine monks: The priory of Wetheral", British History Online, pp. 184–189, retrieved 15 February 2015
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link); "List Entry", English Heritage, retrieved 15 February 2015{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^ "History and Research: Wetheral Priory Gatehouse", English Heritage, retrieved 15 February 2015
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link); J. Wilson (1905), "Houses of Benedictine monks: The priory of Wetheral", British History Online, pp. 184–189, retrieved 15 February 2015{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^ a b "History and Research: Wetheral Priory Gatehouse", English Heritage, retrieved 15 February 2015
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^ a b c d Emery 1996, p. 203; "List Entry", English Heritage, retrieved 15 February 2015
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^ Arnold, Howard & Litton 2004, pp. 1–4
Bibliography
- Arnold, A.; Howard, R. E.; Litton, C. D. (2004). Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers from Wetheral Priory Gatehouse, Wetheral, Cumbria. London, UK: English Heritage. ISSN 1473-9224.
- Emery, Anthony (1996). Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales, 1300–1500: Volume 1, Northern England. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521497237.
- Harrison, Peter (2004). Castles of God: Fortified Religious Buildings of the World. Woodbridge, UK: Boydell Press. ISBN 9781843830665.
- Prescott, John Eustace (1897). The Register of the Priory of Wetheral. London, UK: Elliot Stock. OCLC 750432852.
External links
