Description

SE 76 NW
1/41

FIRBY
KIRKHAM LANE
(south side)
Kirkham Priory

GV
I

Augustinian priory. Mid C12 to C15. Founded by Walter L'Espec, 1122-1130.
Sandstone and limestone ashlar and rubble. Church with associated monastic
buildings to south, and detached gatehouse to north west. Part of C13 east
wall of church survives almost to full height and has a surviving tall
shafted lancet with stiff leaf capitals. Of the monastic buildings,
substantial sections of the cloister (with fine C13 lavatorium and re-sited
Norman portal), refectory and infirmary, remain. A 6-bay arcade survives to
the west range with a passage with a sexpartite vault to the north. The
late C13 gatehouse is the most complete survival, standing to 2 storeys with
2 first-floor windows. Wide arch with filleted roll moulding surmounted by
gabled crocketed hood-mould enclosing trefoiled niche. Sculptures of Saint
George and the Dragon to left, David and Goliath to right, each under small
canopy. Pairs of shields above each group. String course. First floor:
vesica with ballflower decoration containing figure of Christ with figures
of Saint Philip and Saint Bartholomew in trefoiled niches below flanked by
2-light windows with blind quatrefoil panels to base and Kentish trefoil
tracery. Outer bays: unfilled statue niches. 5 continuous crocketed gables
form hood-mould over first-floor features. Stiff-leaf frieze and panelled
parapet. Pinnacled buttress to right. For full description and history see
English Heritage guide. Scheduled as an Ancient Monument. English
Heritage, Kirkham Priory, Official Guide Book; Pevsner N, Yorkshire: York
and the East Riding.

Listing NGR: SE7359565767

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Kirkham Priory at Wikipedia
• Kirkham Priory official website
• Wikidata Q6415670

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East: Norwich and North-east v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)