Leominster Old Priory: Recording of Standing Buildings and Excavations 1979–80

Abstract

This report presents the results of excavations and building recording undertaken in 1979 and 1980 at the Old Priory, Leominster, Hereford and Worcester. This is one of the three remaining buildings of the Benedictine priory at Leominster, a dependent cell of Reading Abbey, the others being a gatehouse chapel, and parts of the priory church. The nave and north aisle of the priory church are now incorporated into the parish church. Observations in the Pinsley Mead, just to the north of the building have also identified fishponds associated with the priory.

The west end of the Old Priory building was probably the reredorter of the monastery, since the Pinsley Brook, a canalized stream which is now dry, runs below the full length of the building. Excavations inside the west end of the building, on the north bank of the Brook, identified a cobbled layer earlier than any of the extant building. Above this was a floor layer associated with a late twelfth-century arcade, supporting the first floor reredorter. Medieval deposits from this room included fish, bird and animal bone, slag, glass and twelfth- and thirteenth-century pottery.

The eastern part of the medieval building probably formed the infirmary range, with a ward and chapel at first floor level. This is substantially early thirteenth century incorporating a moulded arch of the Herefordshire School. Parts of this range were rebuilt in the early fourteenth century. Numerous post-medieval alterations and additions have been made to the whole building, including the construction of a second floor, and the addition of several ancillary brick buildings, associated with its use as a workhouse.