| Summary : A Franciscan Friary founded in 1338, probably for twelve friars, by Thomas, second Lord Wake of Liddell. The friary was suppressed in 1538 and became a private house in 1544. The southern claustral range was incorporated into house known as 'The Priory'. The west wing of The Priory contains evidence of a free standing hall, the earliest known building on the site, which may have been built in the early 14th century, although some architectural details suggest an origin in the 13th century and point to the possibility of a pre-existing structure, perhaps a messuage. By the later 14th or early 15th century the hall had been converted into a guest wing, and it is the architecture of this period which largely characterises the present house. The house also conatins elements of the cloister walk and the frater. The ornate 15th century arcade, which formerly faced into the cloister garth, was retained as a principle feature of the external walls on the east side of the central hall and the north side of the eastern wing, and is still visible. Small scale excavations and chance discoveries within the grounds of The Priory have revealed the location of the friary church to the north of the eastern end of the eastern wing. The house had several periods of major refurbishments in the mid 18th and late 19th centuries, most notably in the 1850s by the architect George Godwin. Hitching (2010) documents that James Pulham and Son worked on the gardens at the turn of the 20th century.Residential use ceased during the First World War when the house served as a Red Cross hospital. Then in the 1920s the house was converted to offices for the former Ware Urban District Council. It was restored as local council offices, community centre and restaurant in 1993-4 by the architects Donald Insall and Associates. |
More information : [TL 3555 1434] The Priory [G.T.] (1)
The Friars Minor Conventual at Ware, founded 1338, dissolved in
1538 (a) The house was established probably for twelve friars. (2)
The Priory is a dwelling house largely constructed out of the
remains of a Franciscan Friary. The earliest detail now visible
is of late 15th century date. All that now remains is the
greater part of the Southern Range, less than half the
Western Range, and the Great Hall. Condition good, much altered, repaired and restored.
[Architectural details given.] (3)
The Franciscan Priory of Ware owed its foundation to Thomas,
second Lord Wake of Liddell, who received the King's
permission in February, 1338, to give to the Friars Minors a
messuage in Ware for an oratory, houses and other buildings (b).
The surrender of the priory took place in 1538. (c). (4)
"The work in the entrance hall [of Ware Priory] possibly marks
an earlier date than the fourteenth century and in that case
would presuppose some earlier building than Wake's foundation.
The line of the cloisters may be assumed from the entrance
hall, and the further extent of the house eastwards was
ascertained by the discovery of foundations in 1892 ... Of the
chapel, no trace has yet been found. The buttresses, good
examples of the early work, have been restored. The burying-ground
is assumed to have been to the north on land now occupied by the
vicar's allotments." (5)
Ware Priory is now the property of the town, and the house,
which incorporates a considerable portion of the friary
buildings, is occupied by the Council Offices. "The church must
have stood on the north side of the cloister and its
foundations probably exist beneath the lawn in front of the house.
The surviving buildings consist of the greater part of the southern
range, three bays of the western range, and the Great Hall or Guest
House projecting to the west of the latter. Most of the roof of the
hall is probably original. (d).
[See AO/60/131/3.] (6)
"The actual date of the surrender of Ware Friary was
9th May, 1535. [See AO/60/104/1.] (7)
"The western portion of the cloisters is thought to be
indicated by a long rise in the ground." [See AO/60/131/2.] (8)
Ware Priory. The present house exhibits 15th, 17th and 18th c.
works. "The remains not of a priory but of the house of the
Franciscans at Ware." (9)
In September, 1954, "... the massive foundations of medieval walls
were to be seen in the grounds of Ware Priory exposed in the sides of
[ a ] trench ... between Priory Street and the River Lea. The
foundations ... lay 3 feet below the surface and averaged 3 ft.
6 ins. in height. ... Their position accorded with the presumed
site of the Franciscan church. A valuable photographic record
of the masonry was made by mr. E. D. Barks, senior architectural
assistant on the council staff. A finely carved piece of stone from the arch of a window, with cusped tracery, was also found. (10)
External repairs to Priory, 1950-1. (11)
Destruction of Priory gateway recorded. (12)
Architectural Description of Remains. (13)
The Priory. Grade I. "Remains of Franciscan Friary of
15th century date consisting of part of cloisters and hall with
fine roof. The Chapel has disappeared, and the building somewhat
altered during the 18th to 20th centuries to make it
more comfortable as a house. Interesting building with
pretty waterside garden. The Priory is now the Urban District
Council Offices and has many features of note." (14)
'The Priory' is as described by Auth's. 3 and 14; in good
condition and in use as Ware U.D.C. offices.
The evidence of authority 10 was confirmed by Mr. Barks who
provided me with a copy of the plan made at the time of the
opening of the sewer. The foundations revealed were situated at
TL 3560 1432 ('A').
The interpretation of the foundations as those of the
conventual church is questionable: their plan and orientation do
not accord with the normal friary layout. (15)
Trenches were dug in 1954 and 1977 for the laying of sewer
pipes. In 1954, Mr E Barkes, a council employee noted and plotted
the position of the walls cut by the trench. In March 1977
another trench was dug some 6.0m to the east. Two substantial
sections of walling with a stretch of rammed chalk floor between
were observed. In addition to these remains two inhumation
burials were observed in the exposed section, but these had
been mostly destroyed when the trench was dug. It seems
probable, from the scraps of evidence gleaned from the site
and known plans of similar small monastic establishments that
the most likely building in that position would have been the
Friary church. (16)
Hitching documents that James Pulham and Son worked on the gardens at the turn of the 20th century. (21)
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