Monument record 10640/12 - Abbey of St Werburgh - Great Court (Abbey Courtyard)

The west, north and east sides of the Abbey Courtyard, also called the Great Court, and matching the current dimensions of Abbey Square, contained buildings that were used by the Abbey's administration. The south range, on the other hand, was formed by the Abbot's lodgings (CHER 10640/6). The buildings are shown on a plan of the Abbey at the time Dissolution; the west range, north of the Abbey Gateway, consisted of the great kiln and drying floors. While the north range consisted of a brewhouse and bakehouse (CHER 10640/20), and storerooms, in addition to some domestic structures. The former had two ovens, one reported to have been c 6m in diameter. The present north and west ranges consist of Georgian terraces (2, 3). Please see CHER 10641/4 for a summary of the more significant post medieval changes to the court.

<1> Lysons D & Lysons S, 1806-22, Magna Britannia, Lysons D & S 1810 2/452 (Book). SCH2066.

<2> Pevsner N & Hubbard E, 1971, The Buildings of England: Cheshire, /147-148 (Book). SCH3078.

<3> Harris, B.E., 1979, Bartholomew City Guides - Chester, /67 (Book). SCH394.

<4> Lewis C.P & Thacker A.T. (eds), 2005, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume Vii, The City of Chester - The City of Chester, Culture, Buildings, Institutions (Book). SCH6522.