Calder Abbey Gate

Has been described as a Questionable Fortified Ecclesiastical site

There are masonry ruins/remnants remains

NameCalder Abbey Gate
Alternative Names
Historic CountryCumberland
Modern AuthorityCumbria
1974 AuthorityCumbria
Civil ParishSt Bridget Beckermet

Gatehouse to Calder Abbey, used as a garage at time of survey (April 1984). Probably C14 with later alterations including conversion to agricultural use in C17 or C18. Stone blocks with quoins. Graduated slate roof (of reduced pitch?) renewed in 1970s. 2 storeys, 2 bays. Wide, pointed wagon arch in each gable end of 2 chamfered orders. Chamfered imposts and plinths to eastern arch, western arch blocked with door inserted. 3 small splayed windows, now blocked, to ground floor left in north wall with inserted loft door to right; 2-light C17 unglazed mullioned window to 1st floor on each wall, all probably re-used. Stone copings and kneelers to roof. Interior: floor removed during renovation; single king post roof truss. Byre range adjoining to north not of interest. The gatehouse forms a major part of an important group of monastic buildings. (Listed Building Report)

Calder Abbey, founded 1134 by Wm de Meschines. Church built late 12th - early 13th century. It has a cloister on the S side and part of the monastic buildings are now inside a late Georgian house. Oldest detail of church is W doorway with round, moulded arch, waterleaf capitals. The church has straight E end, transepts with an E aisle, a nave with aisles 5 bays long. The W range of the monastic buildings has completely gone. The S range exists partly in the 18th century house. Much of E range still exists and consists of chapter house, dormitory, undercroft. Part of the refectory and warming house survive in the basement of the 18th century house. The gatehouse is apparently 14th century. (Lake District National Park HER)

Gatehouse Comments

Included in Perriam and Robinson's gazetteer of medieval fortified buildings but nothing particularly defensive about this abbey gatehouse.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

This is a Grade 2* listed building protected by law

Historic England Scheduled Monument Number
Historic England Listed Building number(s)
Images Of England
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNY049063
Latitude54.4440307617188
Longitude-3.46707010269165
Eastings304964
Northings506397
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Perriam, Denis and Robinson, John, 1998, The Medieval Fortified Buildings of Cumbria (Kendal: CWAAS Extra Series 29) p. 100
  • Pevsner, Nikolaus, 1967, Buildings of England: Cumberland and Westmorland (Harmondsworth) p. 86
  • Parker, C.A. (new edn rev. Collingwood, W.G.), 1926, The Gosforth District: Its Antiquities and Places of Interest (Kendal: CWAAS Extra Series 15) p. 130
  • Wilson, J. (ed), 1905, 'Houses of Cistercian monks: The abbey of Calder' in VCH Cumberland_ Vol. 2 p. 174-178 online transcription
  • Hutchinson, W., 1794, The History of the County of Cumberland (Carlisle) Vol. 1 p. 594- online copy

Journals

  • Thorley, J., 2004, 'The Estates of Calder Abbey' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 4 p. 133-162 online copy
  • Calvert, W.K. and Peck, H., 1953, 'Calder Abbey' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 53 p. 83, 85 online copy
  • Loftie, A.G., 1885-6, 'Calder Abbey' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 8 p. 467-504 online copy
  • Loftie, A.G., 1882-3, 'Explorations at Calder Abbey' Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Vol. 6 p. 368-72 online copy