Ruins of the Refectory South of the House at Kerswell Priory

RUINS OF THE REFECTORY SOUTH OF THE HOUSE AT KERSWELL PRIORY

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1281144
Date first listed:
27-Jan-1989
List Entry Name:
Ruins of the Refectory South of the House at Kerswell Priory
Statutory Address:
RUINS OF THE REFECTORY SOUTH OF THE HOUSE AT KERSWELL PRIORY

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1281144
Date first listed:
27-Jan-1989
List Entry Name:
Ruins of the Refectory South of the House at Kerswell Priory
Statutory Address 1:
RUINS OF THE REFECTORY SOUTH OF THE HOUSE AT KERSWELL PRIORY

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
RUINS OF THE REFECTORY SOUTH OF THE HOUSE AT KERSWELL PRIORY

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:
Devon
District:
East Devon (District Authority)
Parish:
Broadhembury
National Grid Reference:
ST 07403 06405

Details

BROADHEMBURY KERSWELL ST 00 NE

2/80 Ruins of the Refectory south of the - house at Kerswell Priory

GV II

Roofless ruin, originally the refectory of Kerswell Priory. Late C15/early C16 origins, although the walls were mostly "rebuilt in the 19th and 20th centuries", (Allan and Griffiths). Stone rubble. Plan: A rectangular building parallel with the main range of the house. The plan and evolution have been described in Exeter Archaeology 1984/5. The 5-bay structure was divided into 3 rooms, the 3 central bays occupied by what was probably the communal refectory which, like the small room to the east, was heated by an open hearth. The range was probably converted to a farmhouse after the Dissolution and used as a farmbuilding by the C19. It retained a high quality medieval wind-braced roof until 1984, when the roof was removed to Buckfast Abbey and the building was partially demolished. Exterior: The walls, which have been capped with concrete, survive to a height of about 3 metres, rising to about 5 metres at the east end. The north wall retains 3 doorways and 2 windows associated with the C19 argicultural use of the building. Although the intrinsic merit of the existing building is slight, it is of special interest in archaeological sense as part of the Priory complex. At the time of the survey (1987) the medieval roof was in storage and could be returned to the building. A number of articles have been written about the building, these are cited in the entries on Kerswell Priory at the Sites and Monuments Register, County Hall. The article on Exeter Archaeology 1984/5 includes scale drawings of the building when the roof was in situ.

Listing NGR: ST0740306405

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
87083
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Exeter Archaeology in Exeter Archaeology, (1984/5)

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Ruins of the Refectory South of the House at Kerswell Priory

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End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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