Medieval Buildings

A selection of buildings dating from the Medieval period showing typical architectural features, local variations and how they were used..

Add to My Favourites English Heritage.NMR/Mr David H. Garbutt Numbers 7 & 8, The Shambles, York, York Houses in towns were narrow and built close together. Jetties projected from the first floor increasing floor space and protecting pedestrians from waste being thrown into the street	Add to My Favourites English Heritage.NMR/Dr Neil J. Clarke LRPS Denny Abbey, Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire The remains of a Benedictine abbey church dating from around 1150. It became a farmhouse after the Reformation when Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries. This property is now in the care of English Heritage (2010) and managed by the Farmland Museum Trust.
Add to My Favourites English Heritage.NMR/Mr Martin Roberts York City Walls and Bootham Bar, York, York Medieval towns were surrounded by walls with gates to allow people in and out. The gates or bars were heavily fortified and were closed at night for security and when the town was being attacked.	Add to My Favourites English Heritage.NMR/Mr Bob Cottrell ARPS AFIAP DP Old Wool Hall, Lavenham, Suffolk This 15th century hall house has a pair of 2 storey wings and is very richly decorated. It would have been a high status home and built in a peacefull area as it has no defensive features.
Add to My Favourites English Heritage.NMR/Dr Bryan C Lindley LRPS Yanwath Hall Cumbria This hall house has one big room with a parlour at one end which was used by the lord and his family.The large windows that let light into the parlour can be clearly seen. The tower was built to be defended in time of attack.	Add to My Favourites English Heritage.NMR/Mr John Burrows DPAGB Gatehouse to Brockhampton House, Herefordshire This 14th century gatehouse was built to impress people with the wealth and status of the owners rather than for defence. The upstairs room would have been used for visitors to stay in.
Add to My Favourites English Heritage.NMR Broad Hall, The Square, North Tawton, Devon This late medieval bay window belongs to Broad Hall and projects into the Square. The size and position of the window would have made it clear to people that the owners were important and wealthy.	Add to My Favourites Reproduced by permission of English Heritage.NMR Falcon Inn, 6 Lower Bridge Street, Chester, Cheshire This Inn was originally a town house for a wealthy family and dates from around 1180. The ornate decoration of the woodwork and unusually large number of windows are evidence of the wealth and high status of the original owner.
Add to My Favourites English Heritage.NMR/Mr Bryan Berkeley ARPS Hospital of St John, Cirencester, Gloucestershire The surviving arcade of the Hospital of St John. Founded in the 12th century it housed poor and sick people. It was not part of a monastery and so continued to exist after the reformation.	Add to My Favourites English Heritage.NMR/Miss Alexis Keech Chapel of St Mary Magdalene, Newmarket, Cambridge This largely unchanged Norman church was originally the chapel of a Leper Hospital and stood outside the settlement as leprosy is a very contagious disease. It has a nave for the congregation and smaller chancel for the priest.
Add to My Favourites English Heritage.NMR Guildhall, Town Street, Thaxted, Essex This timber framed building was built between 1390 and 1410 for the Guild of Cutlers. The ground floor was used for markets, one corner contains the parish lock up where petty criminals were held.	Add to My Favourites Reproduced by permission of English Heritage.NMR Keble's Bridge, Eastleach Turville, Gloucestershire This medieval stone bridge across the River Leach links the villages of Eastleach Martin and Eastleach Turville. The bridge is narrow as it was built for pedestrians and for horses carrying people or packs of goods.