Description

CARLISLE

NY3955NE THE ABBEY
671-1/10/19 Fratry of former Priory of St Mary
01/06/49
(Formerly Listed as:
THE ABBEY
The Fratry)

GV I

Fratry for the Priory of St Mary, now cathedral library,
bookshop and cafe. Between 1465 and 1490. For Prior Gondibour,
with c1690 alterations; 1809-11 restorations by Sir Robert
Smirke and 1880-81 restorations by GE Street; late 1980s
repairs with new stone (in progress at time of survey December
1989). Squared blocks of red sandstone on chamfered plinth
(now below ground level but partly exposed at rear) with
stepped buttresses, eaves cornice, solid parapet and angle
pinnacles on south wall. 1880 graduated greenslate roof within
parapets with coped gables and cross finial (when built the
original roof was either flat or of very low pitch); 1880
ashlar end chimney stack.
7 bays comprising a 6-bay hall and service/stair bay, with
undercroft; on an east-west alignment forming the south range
of the priory cloister and joined to the Cathedral by the (now
ruined) dormitory range. The north wall formerly had the lower
part hidden by the roofed cloister walk, the corbeling and
roof crease for which survive. Left paired pointed-arched
doorways give access to the undercroft and upper levels; right
pointed-arched doorway gives access to hall, within an 1880
porch in replica of 2 bays of the covered cloister walk (the
windows in the porch are copies of the clerestory windows of
the Fratry). Between these doorways the fresh stonework
represents the 1880 blocking of a central doorway and flanking
windows inserted in c1690. Above are 2-light clerestory
Perpendicular windows.
The west wall has a shouldered-arched doorway down steps to
undercroft (probably a late C17 addition) and a large 6-light
Perpendicular window.
The east wall was formerly internal to the dormitory,
off-centre pointed-arched door between undercrofts and a
higher brick blocked segmental-arched doorway into the
dormitory. Remains of the corbels and springers for the rib
vaulting of the dormitory undercroft; above are the corbels,
roof crease and joist holes for the dormitory roof. Part of
the dormitory wall projects beyond the angle of the Fratry and
is repaired with brick.
The south wall has low square-headed double-chamfered windows
lighting the undercroft. In the 5 bays above are large 3-light
Perpendicular windows divided by buttresses and a smaller
window lighting the pulpitum. Low doorways in recessed arches
at right are under slated penticed porch. The right bay has a
projecting octagonal turret lit by lancets which is carried up
above the parapet. Sloping roof crease for dormitory is
carried around at right.
INTERIOR: The interior of the undercroft has rib vaulting
carried on central octagonal columns; at the junction of some
ribs are the initials of TG (Thomas Gondibour) in Gothic
script. Hall was extensively restored in 1880, but the shell
is basically C15 and retains the pulpitum dais. The bookcases
were designed by Street. Internal stairs have been altered,
but spiral stairs in turret still lead to upper floor chamber
now a muniment room. For illustrations before restoration see
RW Billings (1840) plates XXXVIII-XLIV. For further
information on the 1880 restoration see Brown (1951) and
Perriam TCWAAS, Trans.NS, LXXXVII.
(Billings RW: Carlisle Cathedral: 1840-: 74-77; Brown JW:
Round Carlisle Cross: 1951-: P.219-227; Cumb. & West.
Antiquarian & Archaeological Soc., New Series: Perriam DR:
LXXXVII: The demolition of the Priory of St. Mary: P.136-8).

Listing NGR: NY3988155912

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17530537

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.

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