WALL AROUND GROUNDS OF GLASTONBURY ABBEY AND ABBEY RETREAT HOUSE WALL AROUND GROUNDS OF GLASTONBURY ABBEY AND ABBEY RETREAT HOUSE, INCLUDING THE GATE WAY ON CHILKWELL STREET

Overview

Location

Details

863/7/112 CHILKWELL STREET (South West side)

21.06.1950 Wall around grounds of ST50303879 Glastonbury Abbey and Abbey Retreat House, including the gate way on Chilkwell Street

GV II*

863/7/113 SILVER STREET 21.06.50 (South Side) ST50303879 Wall around grounds of Glastonbury Abbey and Abbey Retreat House GV II*

The wall runs along the south side of Silver Street before turning at right-angles to run south along the west side of Chilkwell Street. It is said to be largely the original late medieval wall which surrounded the Abbey precinct. Some sections of the masonry are considerably disturbed. The gateway on Chilkwell Street is largely C19 but incorporates medieval work. Large 4-centred archway with small window over. Buttresses with set-offs to each end. 4 medieval carved panels inset above archway (2 on inside face) including depictions of the Pelican in her Piety and St Joseph's cruet. Against the north side of the gateway is a fragment of wall standing to its original height. The wall running north is stepped down to approx 7/8 ft, random freestone blocks with concrete coping. On Silver Street, the wall retains the jambs and voussoirs of a small 4-centred archway (blocked). Directly north of Abbey Retreat House the wall rises abruptly to approx 12 ft and is much disturbed. This higher section ends to the west with a late medieval buttress with one set-off and chamfered plinth. This buttress also terminates a section of wall composed of masonry blocks running south at right-angles to the street, and with a crenellated section returned at south end. The wall on Silver Street continues some distance further west at a lower height of approx 8 ft. To the south of the Chilkwell Street gateway, the wall is approx 10 ft high and apparently stands to its original height. A short section of original coping survives, replaced by concrete further south. Random rubble, partly coursed. This wall has considerable irregularities and lessens in height before turning west away from the street. The wall continues in a rebuilt form along the backs of the houses at Bere Lane before it finally reaches Friar's Hill. This section has stones set on end along the top. The Abbey Retreat House, Glastonbury Abbey (see Magdalene Street), Wall around grounds of the Abbey and Abbey Retreat House, and the listed buildings from No 3 to No 17 Chilkwell Street (North east side), all form an important group.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

265894

Legacy System:

LBS

Legal

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