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KERSWELL PRIORY

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DESCRIPTION

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House on the site of a Cluniac Priory which was founded between 1119 and 1129. It was a cell of the Cluniac Monastery of Montecute, and had some problems in the 14/15th century as an alien priory. It was dissolved in 1539. The priory was intended to have a prior and twelve monks, but in 1278 there were only three monks besides the prior, and in the early 16th century Leland described it as a cell for two monks. Although the house may occupy the site of the north, west and east ranges of the priory, the house has a late 16th century core with 17th and 18th century alterations. It is rendered, probably over cob and stone, with a stone slate roof.

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(ST 07410641) The Priory (NAT)
Cluniac Priory (GT)
(Remains of) (NAT) (1)

The block now forming the northern and older part of the house represents the church. (2)

(Church centred at ST 07390643) There is no visible remains of the church to identify it as such, but if the contention in 2 is correct that the E-W house is the remains of the church with Elizabethan alterations, the perimeter shown is that of the church. The N. wall is early and much as it was in the original house. The E. wall is undatable, and the extent of the church in that direction uncertain. The S. wall is very thick, of stone, and was once the outer wall along all of its length to the West of the offices which it is suggested ran from the church to the South range, no remains exist, and layout and purpose are conjectural. See GP F/53/15/2 for the remainsof the 12th century doorway. (3)

Alien priory at Kerswell, founded 1119-29, refounded as a priory cellin 1407, finally disolved in 1538. Cluniac dependent on Montacute. (4)

The farm incorporates fragments of the priory. (5)

The report in (3) is correct, and there is no change in the condition. (6)

The Priory including outbuildings. Grade II*. Built on site of old priory which is said to have been a cell of Montacute. (7)

SOURCE TEXT

(2) Devonshire Association reports and transactions

89, 1952 Page(s)115-21

(3) Field Investigators Comments

F1 NVQ 27-NOV-63

(4) by David Knowles and R Neville Hadcock 1953 Medieval religious houses : England and Wales

Page(s)97

(5) by Nikolaus Pevsner 1952 South Devon

The Buildings of England Page(s)189

(6) Field Investigators Comments

F2 GHP 11-JAN-62

(7) List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest

Honiton Rural District, JUL-1950 Page(s)12

(8) by David Knowles and R Neville Hadcock 1971 Medieval religious houses in England and Wales

Page(s)173

(1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1906

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