Kirkham Priory and Surroundings

The ruins of Kirkham Priory are situated on the banks of the River Derwent, at Kirkham, North Yorkshire, England. The Augustinian priory was founded in the 1120s by Walter l'Espec, lord of nearby Helmsley, who also built Rievaulx Abbey. The priory was surrendered in 8 December 1539 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Legend has it that Kirkham was founded in remembrance of l'Espec's only son who had died nearby as a consequence of his horse being startled by a boar. Dormitory This view of the dormitory showing a doorway and lamp niche on the upper part of the wall. Normally the canons' dormitory would have bee at first-floor level, with a staircase in the south transept for access to the church for night services. At Kirkham it was set at the level of the cloister, because of the fall of the ground to the south. Cloister The cloister is a rectangular court which formerly had a covered alley on each side, though all trace of these has now vanished.The alley roofs would probably have been supported on open arches, and may have been embellished with animal and figure sculptures as they were in other Augustinian priories.The central court or garth might have been laid out as a formal garden which may have had water running through open drain channels around the sides. When not attending services in the church, the canons spent most of their days in this court. they would have been provided with a series of carrels or desks at which thy might study or write. The western end of the priory church and the vaulted entrance to the cloister with the remains of the chapel above. Gatehouse The great gatehouse formed the main entrance into the priory and was built in about 1320 to 1340 and rebuilt in the 13th century. It has a wide carriage arch, surmounted by a very decorative pointed gable around which is ranged a series of figures and shields bearing the arms of the noble patrons with which the priory was associated. Originally, the figures and the shields would have been painted. The gatehouse viewed from the south. The gatehouse arch viewed from the south. The decorated exterior wall of the gatehouse viewed from the north. Church Window Remains of a tall (13th century) window at the east end of the Priory church.

This view of the dormitory showing a doorway and lamp niche on the upper part of the wall. Normally the canons' dormitory would have bee at first-floor level, with a staircase in the south transept for access to the church for night services. At Kirkham it was set at the level of the cloister, because of the fall of the ground to the south.

The gatehouse arch viewed from the south

The gatehouse viewed from the south.

The decorated exterior wall of the gatehouse viewed from the north The great gatehouse formed the main entrance into the priory and was built in about 1320 to 1340 and rebuilt in the 13th century. It has a wide carriage arch, surmounted by a very decorative pointed gable around which is ranged a series of figures and shields bearing the arms of the noble patrons with which the priory was associated. Originally, the figures and the shields would have been painted.

Kirkham Priory View towards the remains of the Misericord (the room in a monastery for monks granted a relaxation of monastic rules) from the Cloister.

Kirkham Priory The view through the arch show the three arch bridge over the River Derwent.