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 14 

 
 AN ACCOUNT 
 
 0? THE 
 
 PRIOEY OF S. MARTIN, 
 DOVER 
 
 BY 
 
 J. TAVENOR PERRY, M.R.I.A. 
 
 Avthor of the "ntualratimt of the Ucdixcai Antiquitia of Dm-ltam," <ic 
 
 JAMES PARKER & CO. 
 OXFOED & LONDON. 
 
 1871
 
 The following account forms the substance of a paper 
 read on the occasion of the opening of the Refectory 
 to the Priory of S. Martin, Dover, after its restoration 
 for the use of the Dover College Company. The 
 history of the building can only be gathered fi'om 
 county chronicles, or the publications of archaeological 
 societies, not easily accessiljJc to general readers ; this 
 pamphlet is intended to give in a more convenient 
 form the information which would otherwise have to 
 be painfully gleaned from old and cumbersome volumes. 
 It is also hoped that it may call some attention to a 
 buUding, which, fr-om its position, and the neglect to 
 which it has so long been subjected, is too little known. 
 Any profit which may arise fr'om the sale will be 
 devoted to further works of restoration, more par- 
 ticulary to the new refectory door. 
 
 Clielsea, 1871. 
 
 StacK 
 
 Annex 
 
 5 
 
 — )^ ' 
 
 2008162
 
 PLATES. 
 
 General View of the Gateway, as proposed 
 
 to be restored ..... Frontispiece, 
 
 Interior of the Eefectory as restored . . Title. 
 
 The door to be inserted in the south -wall 
 
 of the Eefectory adjoiaing the Lavatory . Page 1 8. 
 
 Plan of remains of the Priory . . . „ 24. 
 
 (In this plan the pai-ts now standing are tinted, the other jiortions have 
 heen recently destroyed, and are restored partly from Dr. Plumtree's 
 plan of the ehuruh, and partly from the Ordnance Survey and other 
 sources.)
 
 PRIORY OF S. MARTIN, DOVER. 
 
 Among the many remains of mediaeval art left to us 
 in this country there are few so interesting as those 
 of the Priory of SS. Maiy and Martin at Dover. 
 AVhetlier for its history, or for its artistic value as the 
 \\Teck of a once magnificent pile of buildings, it is 
 well worthy of careful study. The history of its foun- 
 dation carries us back to the time when the Eoman 
 had scarcely quitted our shores, and its architectiu:e is 
 an example of that brilliant period of art when almost 
 all our principal buildings were founded or reconstructed 
 by the Norman conquerors. 
 
 Early after the conversion of the Saxons we find 
 a college for secular canons was established at Dover, 
 and, if tradition be correct, this was only the re\dval 
 of a still earlier foundation.^ Its history, and the 
 
 ' Tlie church in the Castle 
 is said to have been raised by 
 tlie British King Lucius, and 
 re-built by Eadbald, the son 
 and successor of S. Ethelbert. 
 Eadbald founded here a college 
 
 of secular canons, but at the 
 end of the seventh century, tliey 
 were removed to the new priory 
 of tS. !Martin-le-Grand by King 
 ■\Vihtred.
 
 6 PEIORY OF S. MARTIN, DOVER. 
 
 liistory of the church with which it was connected, 
 have been well told by Canon Puckle in his valuable 
 work on the Chui'ch in the Castle/ a work which 
 is doubtless well known to all interested in the anti- 
 cpities of Dover. The canons of this first founda- 
 tion appear, however, to have been early dispossessed 
 of their house ; and they found a new home in the 
 Priory of S. Martin-le-Grand in the valley below. 
 There, boasting of royal privileges and perhaps ill- 
 advisedly presuming on tlipm, we find them when 
 our history of this Piiory comn;ences.^ 
 
 The great Norman Conquest was not merely a change 
 of dynasty but a complete subjugation of the people ; 
 and the English monks in the quiet of their cloisters 
 felt, as well as their countrymen, the hard hand of the 
 victor. Throughout the length and breadth of the 
 land the intrusion of Norman priors and abbots into 
 the religious houses soon followed the conquest, and 
 the discontent and murmuring of the brothers often 
 produced violent tumults and changes. Everj'w^here 
 we find the secular priests superseded by monks of 
 the newer orders ; while in places like Durham, the 
 
 ^ " The Church and Fortress castle. They were to ho suhject 
 
 of Dover Castle," by the Eev. to no prelate or ordinary. JMuss 
 
 John Puckle, !M.A. was not to be begun in any 
 
 church in the town until the 
 
 ^ The special privileges with bell of S. Martin-le-Grand gave 
 
 winch they Avere endowed are notice that it had commenced 
 
 given by Hasted as follows : there. The church was to "be 
 
 They were to have tlje same esteemed as the King's chapel, 
 
 fraucliises and privileges as they and to be subject only to his 
 
 had hitherto enjoyed in the jurisdiction.
 
 PRIORY OF S. MARTIN, DOVER. 7 
 
 fame of whose Saxon saiut, Cutlibert, was too great 
 and wide-spread to be ignored, it was a Norman bishop 
 and his aUeu followers who raised the glorious pile 
 which still frowns above the Wear, to the memory 
 of the sainted compatriot of those whom he had just 
 ruthlessly thrust out at their own convent doors. 
 
 Some such change took place at Dover : and, although 
 we may know nothing of the incidents connected with 
 it, the ruins of S. Martin-le-Grand and these buildings 
 testify that it was at once violent and complete. The 
 jealousy existing between the secular priests and the 
 so-called religious orders was very strong at the 
 period when this Priory was commenced and affected 
 to a considerable extent its early history. William 
 Corljoil, Archlnshop of Canterbury, at whose instiga- 
 tion, or under whose direction, these changes were 
 made at Dover, was himself an Austin Canon. He 
 had been for some time before his appointment Prior 
 of the House of S. Osyth, and had been put into his 
 high position as a man holding a middle place l^etween 
 the two great parties which at that time disturbed the 
 English Church. For some years he had been clerk 
 to the celebrated Flambard, bishop of Durham,* and 
 
 * Ealpli Flamliard, or Passe- of men in evil ; lie robbed every 
 
 flabcre, was the son of a village oliurch under his charge, and 
 
 priest of Bayeux, and his mother reduced rich and poor to such 
 
 was reputed to be a witch. He indigence that they preferred 
 
 was Dean of Christ Churcl), death to life under him. In 
 
 Hampshire, and afterwanls the 1095 the kingdom was entrusted 
 
 Bishop of Durham. Waleott to him, while he held sixteen 
 
 says, " He was the most subtle churches, cathedrals and abbeys,
 
 b PRIORY OF S. MARTIN, DOVER, _^ 
 
 it would be interesting to know how far he possessed 
 in common with his master, the taste and love for 
 architectural magnificence. At Christchurch l\vynham, 
 at Durham, and throughout his diocese, Flambard 
 had commenced and carried out works, large and im- 
 portant even for that time of building activity ; and 
 one who was so closely associated with him as his 
 chaplain, must have been more or less influenced 
 by the works he saw around him. Accordingly, at 
 Canterbury, at Merton,* and here at Dover, Ave find 
 the Archbishop displaying that love for bricks and 
 mortar which he might well have acquired under 
 such a master. 
 
 Instead of attempting any enlargement of the old 
 house, by means of the funds the suppression placed at 
 his disposal and of a gi-ant made by the king, he com- 
 menced an entirely new house upon a difl'ereut site. The 
 ground he selected for his work was at that time outside 
 the town walls and was, no douljt, unencumbered with 
 
 without bishop or abbot, which " The found.itinns of the 
 
 he reduced to the depths of Austin Canon Priory of JMertun 
 
 poverty." He was a great were said to have been hiid in 
 
 architect, and built, besides the 1092 (.Stone), but a convent 
 
 naves of Cliristchurch, T^vyn- of wood was erected in 1115 
 
 ham, and Durham ; Norhani (Lysons), and tlie first prior and 
 
 Castle.MottesfordPnory, Lincoln, canons took possession in 1117, 
 
 and Kepyer Hospital, Durham. (Tanner). The convent was first 
 
 In association with such a man, built of stone in 1130, and the 
 
 Corboil, if not rendered more new convent entered by the 
 
 suitable for his high office of canons in 11 30, so that the 
 
 archbishop, no doubt aciiuired works here were in progress at 
 
 some knowledge of architectural the same time as at Dover, 
 art.
 
 PEIORY OP S. MARTIK, DOVER. ■) 
 
 Other l.uUdiugs. Being himself an Austin Canon, he 
 prepared his ne^v house for members of his order, 
 passing over the BenecUctines of Christ Church Canter- 
 bury, in a manner that provoked theii- jealousy to such 
 a degree as to cause him much trouble afterwards. 
 
 The Austin Canons were an order of regular clergy 
 holding a middle position between the newer orders of 
 monks'' brought over to a great extent after the 
 conquest, and the older orders of secular canons. 
 They were in fact a community of parish priests 
 living under rule. Such an order would be of most 
 valurin a town at that time increasing in importance, 
 and with but few churches for the use of the people. 
 They required ample accommodation in their churches 
 for congregations and cared less about the extent 
 and gorgeousness of thek choral arrangements. In 
 the architectural character they gave to thcii- build- 
 ino-s they were more modest than the Benedictmes 
 and other enclosed orders of monks ; they cared Uttle 
 about towers as a decoration to theii- churches, and 
 preferred square east ends to the more rich and varied 
 apsidal terminations then so fashionable. It will be 
 interesting in going over the plan of this Priory to 
 see how far it accorded with theh- rules; and although 
 it afterwards became a Benedictine house, I think we 
 shall find, from a careful examination, that the Priory 
 of S. Martin was in fact a house built according to 
 the rules of the Austin Canons. 
 
 Ai-chbishop Corboil obtained permission for the sup-
 
 10 PRIORY OF S. MARTIN, DOVER. 
 
 pression of the old house in 1130. The king had been 
 present at Canterbuiyatthe dedication of the Cathedral," 
 which had been conducted with great magnificence in 
 the presence of the King of Scotland and all the 
 Bishops of England. Corboil also received a grant of 
 stone fi-om a quany near Caen — said still to be known 
 as the quany of S. Martin — and arrangements were 
 made so that the work was actually commenced in the 
 following year. The work seems to have been hurried 
 on considerably, and a large portion was completed 
 in the course of the following three years, when some 
 of the Canons for whom it was preparing were sent to 
 take possession. These canons were from the Abl)ey 
 of Merton in Surrey, a house with which the Arcli- 
 l)ishop had been connected and in Avhich he evi- 
 dently took some interest. This introduction was, 
 however, violently opposed by the monks of Christ- 
 church, who claimed to have received from the king 
 the gi-ant of the new Prior)-, and who naturally pre- 
 ferred that it should be inhaljited by those of their 
 own order. To support their claim, they prepared to 
 send one of their number to Eome, and, what was 
 perhaps more to the purpose, they at once intro- 
 duced some of their monks to turn out the intruders, 
 and hold the house for their convent xuitil the matter 
 in dispute was settled. By the death of the Arch- 
 
 ° This was the dedication wards destroyed by tlie great 
 of the church built by Lani'ranc, fire, 
 and enlarged by Anselm, after-
 
 PRIORY OF S. MARTTK, DOVER. 11 
 
 bishop the canons soon lost their friend and supporter, 
 and they disappear entirely from the stoiy, dis- 
 puting no further for the house which had been 
 prepared for them. The monks of Christchurch do 
 not, however, appear to have been at fu-st successful 
 in keeping peaceable possession. Heniy of Winchester, 
 the papal legate, to whom they appealed at the 
 death of Corboil, decided that they were in illegal 
 occupation, and forthwitli sent them home again to 
 Canterbury. But on the appointment of Theobald, 
 Corboil's successor to the Archbishopric, after some 
 further disputing, the matter was fuially settled by 
 the introduction of some Benedictines, with the sacrist 
 of Christchurch as prior. Constant bickerings and 
 petty quarrels as to then- right to join in the elections 
 of the archbishops, or as to the appointment of their 
 o^vn priors, disturbed their peace for many years, 
 but no attempt was again made to alter the arrange- 
 ment and rule of the Benedictine order.' 
 
 The progress of the works had probably been stopped 
 
 ' The hiatory of the foun- Corboil obtains permission for a 
 
 dation from the beginning wiis change of the order. (."5) He 
 
 briefly this : commences the now work and 
 
 (ij At an uncertain date the introduces Austin canons. (G) 
 churchinthcCastlewasbuilt. (2) The convent of Christ Church 
 Eadbahl founds there a college oppose, and turn out the new 
 for twenty-two secular canons, cauong. (7) Corboil dying, on 
 (3) About G96, VVihtred moves appeal, the Pope's legate turns 
 those canons to the new foun- out the monks from Canterbury, 
 dation of S. Martin-le-Grand, and (8) The new Archbisliop re- 
 endows them with special jirivi- introduces Henedictines, who 
 leges. (-1) In 1130, Archbishop maintain possession afterwards.
 
 12 PRIORY OF S. MARTIX, DOVER. 
 
 while tliese serious disagreements were proceeding ; but 
 the new Ai'chbishop soon interested himself in the 
 completion of the buildings, and it would appear that 
 in the first year or two of his rale they were nearly 
 finished. 
 
 The Priory, as left by Theobald, was not much altered 
 at any subsequent period, and the principal portions 
 remaining at the Eeformation, with a few exceptions, 
 were of his times. About a hundred years after the 
 foundation, considerable works were in progress — 
 a bake-house and brew-house being particularly men- 
 tioned. Although we find no reference to them, 
 no doubt al)out this date the Gateway and Barn 
 were built. In 1295 veiy much damage was done 
 to the buildings by the French forces at that time 
 laying siege to the Castle, and traces of their mischief 
 are evident both in the refectory and the gate. 
 It is somewhat doubtful if the cloister court had 
 its usiial arcade surroundincr it from the first, as the 
 remains which have been discovered rather indicate 
 that it was built about the same time as the gateway 
 and the bake-house. In 1484, however, the will of 
 a Robert Lucas was proved, by which thirteen and 
 four pence was left for the making of the new cloister. 
 It is scarcely probable, however, that this cloister 
 was ever built, as no fragments of work so late in 
 date have been found in the ruins. 
 
 When, before the suppression, the convent was in- 
 spected by the King's Visitors it seems to have been in
 
 PRIOR Y OF S. MARTIX, DOVER. 13 
 
 a decapng condition. Bad management or diminished 
 revenues had brought the house to the verge of bank- 
 ruptcy : and we see good cause for the grief of the 
 honest inhabitants of Dover, to which the commis- 
 sioners referred in their report, in the inventory of 
 goods, which at that time were " impledged"* to other 
 inhabitants, to whom the Prior had had recourse.' The 
 house was voluntarily surrendered by the Prior and 
 brethren on the 16th November, 1535, and the build- 
 ings and revenues granted to the See of Canterbur}^ 
 The stalls in the Church were given to S. Marj^'s, but 
 the altars were not finally removed until 1549.'° The 
 materials of the church were then given to the towm 
 of Dover for the repairs of the town walls and gates, 
 and so, piece by piece, one of the finest monastic 
 churches ih this countiy has been utterly swept away. 
 These are all the historical facts I can give you in 
 reference to the Prioiy, but we may yet find several 
 
 ' Certeii pnrcelh- plate to cer- (<as it was reaported unto us) 
 
 ten pargoiis implegrj. — j. pyx of found the house at his fj'rst 
 
 sylver and gilte inpledyed to comyng thither indented in ix.*''Ii. 
 
 Thomas Mansell, of Dover, and liath reduced and lirought 
 
 liocher, for vij". j. cote for an that to c". as itt is said, of whose 
 
 image of S. Thomas, garnyshed nowe case dyvers of the honest 
 
 with divers broches, rynges, and inhahitants of Dovor shewe them- 
 
 other Jewells Lnpledgedto Kobcrt selves veray sory." The original 
 
 ]\Ialyn for . . . . — " Archaiologia letter in MS. Cotton. Cleop., 
 
 Cautiana." Vol. 7. Wakott. E. IV., fol. 219." 
 
 * " The house of Dovor is a " Xo traces of the stalls or 
 
 goodly house, and well repayred pews I believe were discovered 
 
 in all places, as far as we cowd in S. JIary's, when it was re- 
 
 perceyve ; and tliat the prior stored some years since.
 
 14 PRIORY OF S. MARTIN, DOVER. 
 
 matters to interest us by turning to the buildings 
 themselves. 
 
 The most important part, the centre round which 
 all the monastic buildings grouped themselves, has 
 almost entirely disappeared. The great Priory Church 
 of S. Martin, must have been comparable, both in 
 importance and extent, to many of the cathedrals 
 now standing." Thanks to the careful attentions 
 of Dr. Plumtree, at a period peculiarly fovourable to 
 observation, we have a tolerably complete plan of the 
 church in its original state. Its square east end, and 
 the absence of all preparation for western towers, 
 point to the progress it had made l^efore the Bene- 
 dictine influence was felt; while the proportions of the 
 nave and the means of access provided on the town 
 side shew the arrangements which were made for large 
 congregations.''' Portions of the north and west walls 
 of the nave may still be seen in situ, thanks to the 
 
 " Tlio dimensions of this " It will be seen by reference 
 
 church, as ascertained from an to the plan at the end, that these 
 
 inspection of the foundations, separate entrances are sliown iu 
 
 are, total length abmit 300 ft., the south and west sides of the 
 
 breadth across transepts 1 GO ft. church, the sides most accessible 
 
 The centre aisle of the nave was to the town, while the side next 
 
 about 35 ft. wide, and the side the cloisters only shows a single 
 
 aisles 18 ft. The size of the entrance. How far this is coi- 
 
 crossing was about 30 ft., and rect we cannot now judge, but 
 
 seems to have been prej)ared for at the time Mr. Plumtree pre- 
 
 a tower. The transepts, wliich pared his plan he was doubtless 
 
 had no aisles but apsidal chapels well able to avoid any mist;iko 
 
 in the east side, were the same on these points, 
 width as the centre aisle of the 
 nave.
 
 PRIORY OF S. MARTIN, DOVER. 
 
 15 
 
 care of Mr. Cliignell, in whose hands the rains have 
 been for two years. '^ 
 
 It is somewhat curious tliat the fate which overtook 
 the Priory Church of S. Martin, Dover, has its parallel 
 in that which has overtaken that of S. Martin at Tours.'* 
 There, one of the main streets of the town runs down 
 the centre aisle of the choir and nave, while a cross 
 street occupies the position of the transepts. And 
 here at Dover, the houses of Saxon Street look out 
 into what was once the choir, while Effingham Street 
 exactly takes the place of the transepts, the chapter- 
 house and the dormitory." 
 
 The chapter-house adjoined the north transept north - 
 
 " While the buildings were 
 in Mr. Chignell's possession he 
 also did a great deal of work to 
 the refectory and gateway, with 
 a view of maintaining rather 
 than restoring the old work, and 
 we have to thank him, to a con- 
 siilerable extent, for their present 
 comparatively perfect state. 
 
 " " Notice siir le Tombeau 
 de Saint Martin," Tours, 18G1. 
 Tliis great church was almost 
 entirely destroyed at the begin- 
 ning of this century, but active 
 measures were being taken before 
 the last war for a restoration of 
 at least the choir. 
 
 " The following is an inven- 
 tory of the plate in the church 
 at the Eeforination : — 
 Plate and Jewels in ilia CLueyre . 
 imd Vedi/ere: — 
 
 First, j. crossc of sylver with 
 
 the crucifix, Marye and John, 
 of sylver and parcell gilte. Item, 
 ij. chalics with the patents of 
 sylver and gylte. Item, j. chalice 
 with one paten of sylver parceU 
 gylte. Item, j. senser of sylver 
 parcell gylte. Item, j. paxe of 
 sylver and gylte.with the crucifix 
 Marye and John parceU gylte. 
 Item, j. shippe of sylver parcell 
 gylte. Item, j. small spone be- 
 longing to the same sliippe of 
 sylver. Item, j. crewytts of 
 sylver parcell gylte. Item, j. 
 olde relique partly covered with 
 sylver plate and tlie residew 
 with cooper and gylte. Item, 
 j. pyx of cooper and gylte with 
 certen reliques therein conteyned. 
 It«m, j. litle dubell crosse of 
 wood j)latedwith sylver. Item, 
 j. bassiin of lattyn, gylted. Item, 
 j. payre of orgaynes.
 
 16 PRIORY OF S. MARTIN, DOVER. 
 
 ward without the usual slype or small apartment 
 intervening. Its plan and proportions were nearly- 
 identical with those of Durham, but its size was con- 
 siderably less.'" The dormitory, which was about 
 150 feet long, continued the line of buildings as far 
 as Effingham House, passing by the end of the 
 Eefectoiy.'' 
 
 The buildins; on the north side of the cloisters formed 
 the Eefectory of the Priory, and it is the most important 
 of the remains. It measures about 100 feet in length 
 liy 27 feet m "width, and its height to the starting of 
 the roof is aliout 30 feet. The windows are pierced 
 through a simple continuous arcade, which runs all 
 round the inside of the building. It will be noticed 
 that the cajtitals and abaci of the north and south 
 sides differ from those at the end, and do not properly 
 accord with the style of the work. These capitals 
 were evidently mserted after the French attack, when 
 
 '" The Chapter -house at Dur- Winchester, Gloucester, S. 
 
 ham, tlie work of Galfrid Paifus, Albans, Durham, Finchale, &c. 
 
 was about 80 ft. long, ending It formed a passage between the 
 
 with an apse as here. It was cloisters and the cemetery or 
 
 vaulted with a bareel vault and .space at the back of the dormitory 
 
 semi-dome over the apse. Not and chapter-house, 
 being convenient for modern 
 
 capitular meetings, it was pulled '' Tlie Dortor here at Dover 
 down at the beginning of this appears to have been a low 
 century to make way for a building of one storey, as the 
 modern parlour. gable of the refectory was pro- 
 It was usual in Benedictine vided with windows at the end 
 houses to have a small passage, adjoining it, whit'h must have 
 called the slype, between the looked over its roofs. 
 transept to the church, as at
 
 PRIORY OF S. MARTIN, DOVER. 17 
 
 the Refectory must have been seriously damaged 
 by fire. The windows on the south side have their 
 sills at a higher level than those on the noi-th, an 
 arrangement necessitated by the height of the cloisters 
 passing along below. 
 
 The roof with which it was covered previous to the 
 restoration was almost entirely of modern construction, 
 and quite out of keeping with the style of the building 
 itself. It was besides in a very unsafe state, and the 
 opportunity was taken to replace it with a roof more 
 in accordance with the character of the Norman work. 
 
 For two hundred years at least this Refectory was 
 used as a barn, and was ruthlessly knocked about to 
 suit the unworthy purpose to which it was devoted ; 
 but fortunately one of the most interesting features ui 
 the place has nevertheless been preserved. The large 
 drawing of the Last Supper at the east end is, I believe, 
 unique in England, and though it is so much damaged 
 that it has ceased to be in any way ornamental, it 
 bears most valuable traces of what was once a great 
 work of art, and should be carefully and religiously 
 preserved untouched by any attempt at restoration.^* 
 The doorway at the west end occupies the same 
 
 " The general arrangement at a later date, and the position 
 of this work would almost sug- of S. John's head altered. Por- 
 gest that it had heen painted tions of the second work falling 
 after some account of the cele- away, liave disclosed tlie other 
 brated " Last Supper,'' which head, giving to S. John a some- 
 Leonardo da Vinci painted for what ludicrous effect. The nimbi 
 the refectory of S. Dominic, of are in all cases stamped into the 
 Wilan. The figures are life-size, plaster with sunk rays. 
 The painting has been retouched
 
 18 PRIORY OF S. MARTIN, DOVER. 
 
 position as the original entrance ; but the stone work 
 has unfortmiately been removed. One fragment re- 
 mains in the grounds, which may perhaps have formed 
 part of the lintel, and quantities of enriched arch- 
 mouldings lying about shew how fine the doorways here 
 must have been. Those who know the rich works of 
 the same kmd at Patrixbourne, Bai-frestone, and S. Mar- 
 garets at Cliffe near Dover, will easily restore in their 
 own minds an image of the doorway here.'^ 
 
 The arrangements of the refectory, when in use, were 
 very simple. The Prior and his guests sat at a table 
 placed across the east end, slightly raised on a dais. 
 The cups and vessels belonging to his table were kept 
 in the aumbrye at the side — now devoted to housing 
 the gas meter. The tables for the monks were ranged 
 down the sides of the room, and a wooden pulpit 
 stood near the dais, from which the appointed psalms 
 Avere read during; the meal. 
 
 The inventory given of the utensils and furniture 
 found in the refectory at the suppression scarcely 
 supports the popular delusion that eating was one of 
 the chief employments of the monks in the middle 
 ages : — 
 
 " In a plate, No. 134, of a small building sho%vn adjoin- 
 
 " Buck's Antiquities," is a view ing, and at the west end of the 
 
 of the Maison Dieu, with the former is a tower-like erection 
 
 Priory in the backgi'ound. The rising above the roof of the 
 
 Eofectory and the Guest house liefectory. In the middle is a 
 
 appear therein much in their wall pierced by two tall arches 
 
 present state, except that at the which looks like the gable end 
 
 east end of the latter there is of the Dortur.
 
 
 iJpS^sS 
 
 V 
 
 PLAN- 
 
 '1^ 
 
 ^•5i:r
 
 PRIORY OF S. MARTIN, DOVER. 19 
 
 "In the Va-ft'te where the Moncks do dyne, 
 
 j. olde table, j. fourme, j. cusshon of verder, 
 j. booke of the Bybyll \vr)i;ten. 
 " 111 the Buttiye next to the same vawte where the 
 moncks do use to dine, 
 
 j. salte of sylver parcel! gylte with a cover 
 
 to the same, vj. silver sponnes with wreethed 
 
 knoppes gylted, ij. old plapie table clothes, 
 
 ij. old playne to wells, iij. napkyns playne, 
 
 j. bason and j. ewar of pewtar, iij. bell 
 
 candillsticks, j. smalle lampe, v. chaffjTX 
 
 dyshes of latten." 
 
 After theii- dinner the monks washed their hands at 
 
 the lavatory by the refectory door in the cloisters. 
 
 This lavatory consisted of an arcade of three arches 
 
 over the washing place, and appears to belong to the 
 
 second period of building operations at the Prioiy, to 
 
 which we have already referred. 
 
 At the west end of the refectory stood the kitchen, 
 and the remaining side of the cloister was occupied 
 by the cellarage. 
 
 In the houses of the Austin Canons, the Prior's lodge 
 was almost invariably attached to the south-west angle 
 of the nave of the church. Here, however, the position 
 of the church in reference to the town prevented such 
 an arrangement, and the lodge would seem to have stood 
 between the gateway and the cellarage ; or, possibly, if 
 buUt by the Benedictines, on the other side of the 
 great court by the Guesten Hall.
 
 20 PRIOEY OF S. MARTIN, DOVER. 
 
 The gateway appears to have suffered more from the 
 French devastations than any other part of the convent. 
 At the time of their attack it must have been barely 
 finished, but it would seem nevertheless that a con- 
 siderable portion was thro\vn down. Eeconstiiicted 
 at a later date of fragments saved from the ruins, it 
 presents some strange anomalies. The gateway was 
 originally groined and prepared for one or two port- 
 cullises ; but, in the rebuilding, these and the groining 
 wei'e omitted. In the upper chambers are some fire- 
 places with wooden lintels, which evidently from their 
 character could only have been inserted shortly anterior 
 to the dissolution. A small chamber, reached by an 
 external staircase, and with a window opening into 
 the gateway, seems to have formed a chapel, and at the 
 entrance to it is a niche for the holy water stoop, and 
 a recess for the altar and a piscina are in the east wall. 
 The upper chamber of the gateway appears only to 
 have been reached from the buildings on the east side, 
 adjoining which is a small turret staircase leading to 
 tlie roof. The gateway, mifortunately now in a veiy 
 ruinous condition, urgently demands careful repairs. 
 It is to be hoped that if some other means be not 
 forthcoming, the success of the College will justify the 
 council in restoring and devoting it to some appro- 
 priate use.*" 
 
 -" Tho frontispiece shows a be.yon(I raising the walls to their 
 
 view of this gateway as proposed original level and re-ruoliuy the 
 
 to be restored. No alteration whole, 
 would be made iu the structure
 
 PRIORY OF S. MARTIX, DOVER. 21 
 
 The great Priory barn, which some living doubtless 
 very well recollect, stood at the south-west corner of 
 the great court, and seems, from the views of it remain- 
 ing, to have been a fine example of 13th century work/' 
 
 Another building, which I have only mentioned 
 incidentally, is the Guesten Hall. It is quite possible 
 that the erection of a building of this size was not at 
 first contemplated by the founders of the Priory, and 
 that it was part of the scheme the completing the work 
 and fittino; it as far as could be for its Benedictine 
 owners. The Guest house, however, was frequently 
 placed at some distance from the cloister, and in a 
 town such as Dover, where the succession of travellers 
 must have been nearly continuous, it was perhaps 
 thought necessary not to allow of too close an inter- 
 course between the monks and their guests. The 
 character of the work is distinctly later than that 
 of the church and refectory. The building consists of 
 one broad aisle, opening into a narrower one through 
 pointed arches carried on bold cylindrical piers, with 
 an elegant variety of the usual Norman scolloped 
 capital. These capitals are similar to some at S. Mar- 
 garets at Clifi"e, but are nevertheless of an exceedingly 
 rare form. At the west end of the centre aisle was a 
 large fire-place, the chimney of which remains. The 
 Avindows into the hall are all lancet shape, and more 
 than any other feature shew the advance of style. 
 
 ■'■ There is a view of this of the Priory, about a hundred 
 barn in the foreground of a years since, in "Grose's Anti- 
 plate representing the remains quities of England."
 
 22 PEIORY OF S. MARTIN, DOVER. 
 
 The mventoiy already quoted gives the following 
 list of the various chambers, buildings, &c., throughout 
 the Priory, which contained any furniture : — Choir and 
 vestiy, Prior's o\\ai chamber. Chapel next the Prior's 
 chamber, the Great chaml^er, the White chamber, the 
 Prior's inner parlour. Outer parlour, the Vawt (refec- 
 tory), the Buttery, the Kitchen, the Schoolmaster's 
 chamber, and Eichard Elam chamber. 
 
 A plan is given at the end, from which the general 
 disposition of the monastic buildings will be seen, and 
 it may be possil^le with its assistance to trace some of 
 the apartments mentioned above. The church is shewn 
 at the south-east angle of the ground, on the side 
 nearest Dover. Its west and two south doors appear 
 to have opened outside the convent enclosure, to give 
 free access to the people of the town. The cloisters 
 lay on the north side of the nave, and had to the east 
 successively the north transept of the church, the 
 chapter house and the dormitory. The north side was 
 occupied entirely by the refectory, and the east side 
 appears to have been devoted, as is usually the case, 
 to cellarage. The kitchen and buttery may have 
 been in the angle between the cellarage and the refec- 
 tory. The prior's lodging in all proba1)ility extended 
 from the west end of the nave to the gateway, with 
 which possibly it communicated. In the above list is 
 mentioned the prior's own chaml)er and the chapel 
 adjoining. The upper chamber of the gateway was a 
 fine apartment, with a large fire-place inserted at a
 
 PRIORY OF S. MARTI Jf, DOVER. 23 
 
 later period than that of the builtling, with two traceried 
 windows, and having a small chapel adjoining it to 
 tlie west. It may perhaps, therefore, be the chamber 
 referred to. The Great chamber and the White chamber 
 may have been the Guest house, as there would scarcely 
 have been room for them close to the other buildings. 
 Bound the Guest house will be seen on the plan traces 
 of considerable remains, possibly of stables and lodg- 
 ings for the servants of travellers. 
 
 The position of the library is not shewai, nor is it 
 mentioned in the inventoiy, but we know that at one 
 time it was of some little importance. Among the 
 J\ISS. in the Bodleian Libraiy at Oxford, is a catalogue 
 of the lil^rary of S. Martin Dover. It is a small 
 folio in veUum, very legibly Aratten, but damaged in 
 the middle by damp, and still more so by the knife 
 of some illumination hunter with thieving propensities. 
 The compiler was John Whitefield, who appears from 
 the catalogTie to have been the author of several 
 treatises. 
 
 The seal of the Prior}^ is figured in Hasted's "Kent." 
 The impression shews S. Martin di^viding his cloak mth 
 the beggar. The legend was that the saint riding one 
 day out of the gate of Amiens, met a poor and naked 
 man, and haAing nothing about him but his cloak, he 
 shared it with the unhappy one. In the restoration of 
 the doorway to the refectory the legend will be illus- 
 trated by the sculpture of the tympanum. 
 
 The arms of the Priory are given l)y Dugdale as Sa.
 
 24 praoRY OF s. martin, dover. 
 
 a cross Ar. betweeu four leopards faces Or. The cross 
 is sometimes given as Or. as well as the faces. 
 
 The names of the Priors form an uninteresting list. 
 One only seems to have attaiued any high position in 
 the Church — Hugh, who was made Prior in 115 7, and 
 who in 1174 succeeded Thomas Becket as Ai'clibishop 
 of Canterbury. 
 
 We have now touched on all the points in the history 
 and remains of the Priory of general interest, and little 
 more has to be said. Some considerable portion of the 
 buildings have come into the hands of the Dover College 
 Company, and the Council, with praiseworthy regard 
 to the value of their acquisition, have devoted some of 
 their funds to the restoration of the Refectory. More, 
 they cannot do at present ; but as their timely work 
 has saved to Dover one of its most perfect mediteval 
 buildings, others in their tm'n may possiljly be induced 
 to step forward and give them a helping hand in saving 
 from the destruction which threatens them, the Gate- 
 way and the Guest house. 
 
 G. SHIELD, PUI.NTEK, SLOANE SUVAUE, CHELSEA, 6.\V.
 
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