Mount Grace Priory: Excavations of 1957–1992

Owned by the National Trust and managed by English Heritage, Mount Grace Priory in North Yorkshire, established in 1398 and suppressed in 1539, was one of only nine successful Carthusian monasteries in England and one of the best-preserved medieval houses of that order in Europe. First excavated by Sir William St John Hope in 1896-1900 and in state guardianship since 1955 it is acknowledged as a type site for late-medieval Carthusian monasteries.

The modern study of Mount Grace began in 1957 when Hope’s interpretation of the monks’ cells about the great cloister was found to be simplistic. This was followed between 1968 and 1974 by the excavation of individual monks’ cells in the west range of the great cloister and two cells in the north range, together with their gardens, areas not excavated by Hope. The examination of the monks’ cells was completed in 1985 by the excavation of the central cell of the north cloister range, together with its garden and the cloister alley outside the cell. The cultural material recovered from these cells indicated the ‘trade’ each monk practiced, predominantly the copying and binding of books. Because each cell was enclosed by high walls, the pottery and metalwork recovered could be identified to an individual monk. In 1987 English Heritage commissioned the re-excavation of two areas that had been examined by Hope, the water tower in the great cloister and the prior’s cell, refectory and kitchen in the south cloister range and the guest house in the west range of the inner court. The contrast between this semi-public area of the monastery and the monks’ cells was dramatic. Coupled with this excavation was a reappraisal of the architectural development of the monastery and reconstruction of lost structures such as the cloister alley walls and the central water tower.

Table of Contents

Preface

The Charterhouses of England

Charterhouse Remains

First Excavations at Mount Grace: 1896-1900

Mount Grace Passes into State Guardianship

Second Excavation at Mount Grace: 1957

Lauren Keen’s Campaign: 1969-74

Glyn Coppack’s Campaign: 1985-92

Research Design

Acknowledgements

1 Mount Grace Priory and the Carthusian Order

Origins of the Carthusian Order

Spread of the Carthusian Order

Carthusian Life

Layout of Carthusian Monasteries

The Carthusians in England

2 History and Topography of Mount Grace Priory

History of the Charterhouse

The Estates, Demesnes and Site of Mount Grace Priory

Priory Community and the Local People

Suppression and Later History of Mount Grace

3 The Site of Mount Grace Priory and its Archaeological History

Site of the Priory

Previous Archaeological Excavation at Mount Grace Priory

4 The Archaeology of the Great Cloister

Note on Finds Numbering and Context Numbers

The Monks’ Cells

5 The Archaeology of the Inner Court

The South-west Cloister Range

The Guest House and Kitchen Ranges

The Cells of the Lesser Cloister

The South Range of the Inner Court

6 The Buildings and Infrastructure of Mount Grace Priory and their Development

The Development of the Priory Buildings 1398–1539

Water Supply and Drainage

The Development of the Guest-house Range 1540–1901

7 The Cultural Collections

The Setting of the Site Evidenced by Insect Remains

Pottery

Coins and Jettons

The Ceramic Floor Tiles

Fish Remains from the Kitchen and South-west Cloister Range

Small Finds

Architectural Detail

Window Glass

8 The Significance of the Mount Grace Project

Mount Grace Priory and its Significance

Future Research

9 Summary

10 Bibliography