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Fratry, Carlisle
site name:-   Carlisle Cathedral
locality:-   Carlisle
civil parish:-   Carlisle (formerly Cumberland)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   buildings
coordinates:-   NY39875591
1Km square:-   NY3955
10Km square:-   NY35
references:-   Listed Buildings 2010

photograph
BXI11.jpg (taken 17.9.2012)  
photograph
BXI12.jpg (taken 17.9.2012)  
evidence:-   database:- Listed Buildings 2010
placename:-  Fratry
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"FRATRY OF FORMER PRIORY OF ST MARY / / / CARLISLE / CARLISLE / CUMBRIA / I / 386594 / NY3987255913"
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"Fratry for the Priory of St Mary, now cathedral library, bookshop and cafe. Between 1465 and 1490. For Prior Gondibour, with c1690 alterations; 1809-11 restorations by Sir Robert Smirke and 1880-81 restorations by GE Street; late 1980s repairs with new stone (in progress at time of survey December 1989). Squared blocks of red sandstone on chamfered plinth (now below ground level but partly exposed at rear) with stepped buttresses, eaves cornice, solid parapet and angle pinnacles on south wall. 1880 graduated greenslate roof within parapets with coped gables and cross finial (when built the original roof was either flat or of very low pitch); 1880 ashlar end chimney stack. 7 bays comprising a 6-bay hall and service/stair bay, with undercroft; on an east-west alignment forming the south range of the priory cloister and joined to the Cathedral by the (now ruined) dormitory range. The north wall formerly had the lower part hidden by the roofed cloister walk, the corbeling and roof crease for which survive. Left paired pointed-arched doorways give access to the undercroft and upper levels; right pointed-arched doorway gives access to hall, within an 1880 porch in replica of 2 bays of the covered cloister walk (the windows in the porch are copies of the clerestory windows of the Fratry). Between these doorways the fresh stonework represents the 1880 blocking of a central doorway and flanking windows inserted in c1690. Above are 2-light clerestory Perpendicular windows. The west wall has a shouldered-arched doorway down steps to undercroft (probably a late C17 addition) and a large 6-light Perpendicular window. The east wall was formerly internal to the dormitory, off-centre pointed-arched door between undercrofts and a higher brick blocked segmental-arched doorway into the dormitory. Remains of the corbels and springers for the rib vaulting of the dormitory undercroft; above are the corbels, roof crease and joist holes for the dormitory roof. Part of the dormitory wall projects beyond the angle of the Fratry and is repaired with brick. The south wall has low square-headed double-chamfered windows lighting the undercroft. In the 5 bays above are large 3-light Perpendicular windows divided by buttresses and a smaller window lighting the pulpitum. Low doorways in recessed arches at right are under slated penticed porch. The right bay has a projecting octagonal turret lit by lancets which is carried up above the parapet. Sloping roof crease for dormitory is carried around at right."
"INTERIOR: The interior of the undercroft has rib vaulting carried on central octagonal columns; at the junction of some ribs are the initials of TG (Thomas Gondibour) in Gothic script. Hall was extensively restored in 1880, but the shell is basically C15 and retains the pulpitum dais. The bookcases were designed by Street. Internal stairs have been altered, but spiral stairs in turret still lead to upper floor chamber now a muniment room. For illustrations before restoration see RW Billings (1840) plates XXXVIII-XLIV. For further information on the 1880 restoration see Brown (1951) and Perriam TCWAAS, Trans.NS, LXXXVII."
"Billings RW: Carlisle Cathedral: 1840-: 74-77"
"Brown JW: Round Carlisle Cross: 1951-: P.219-227"
"Cumb. & West. Antiquarian &Archaeological Soc., New Series: Perriam DR: LXXXVII: The demolition of the Priory of St. Mary: P.136-8"
evidence:-   old drawing:- 
source data:-   Drawing, The Fratry, Carlisle Cathedral, Cumberland, by Thomas Bushby, 1917.
image  click to enlarge
PR1335.jpg
View of fratry and the walls enclosing it seen from beside the cathedral entrance; to right of composition stands the deanery, partially obscured by trees. The single figure of a woman walks towards it, her back to the viewer. 
dated at bottom right:-  "Oct 11 1917"
item:-  Tullie House Museum : 1996.252.20
Image © Tullie House Museum
evidence:-   old drawing:- 
source data:-   Drawing, Carlisle Cathedral from the West, Carlisle, Cumberland, by Edward H Buckler, 1860s.
image  click to enlarge
PR0897.jpg
Carlisle cathedral stands to left of composition, its fratry to right; in centre foreground a woman advances, accompanied by a child. To their left a couple walk arm in arm towards the cathedral entrance, their backs to the viewer. 
item:-  Tullie House Museum : 1929.30.3
Image © Tullie House Museum
evidence:-   old drawing:- 
source data:-   Drawing, Fratry and Deanery, Carlisle, Looking North, Carlisle Cathedral, Cumberland, by Samuel Bough, 1838.
image  click to enlarge
PR1191.jpg
From foreground a path leads between cathedral and a wall behind which stand the fratry and other buildings. 
signed &dated at bottom left:-  "Sam Bough 1838"
item:-  Tullie House Museum : 1978.108.9
Image © Tullie House Museum
evidence:-   old drawing:- 
source data:-   Drawing, The Deanery and Fratry, Carlisle Cathedral, Cumberland, by Samuel Bough, 1837.
image  click to enlarge
PR1190.jpg
To left of composition low iron railings enclose cathedral; to right stands a gated wall behind which lie the fratry and other buildings. 
signed &dated at bottom left:-  "Sam Bough 1837"
item:-  Tullie House Museum : 1978.108.8
Image © Tullie House Museum
evidence:-   old drawing:- 
source data:-   Drawing, Interior of the Fratry, Carlisle, Cumberland, by Samuel Bough, 1837.
image  click to enlarge
PR1294.jpg
Interior of the fratry, sparsely furnished, the left hand wall having three empty niches and the right having three large tracery windows. Two small figures in clerical robes stand in conversation beside the middle window. 
signed &dated at bottom left:-  "Sam Bough 1837"
item:-  Tullie House Museum : 1978.108.174
Image © Tullie House Museum
evidence:-   old painting:- 
source data:-   Painting, watercolour, The Fratry and Deanery, Carlisle Cathedral, Carlisle, Cumberland, by William Henry Nutter, 1830s-40s.
image  click to enlarge
PR1091.jpg
View from within the cathedral close with fratry standing to left of composition and deanery to right. 
signed at bottom left:-  "W.H. Nutter."
inscribed at bottom centre:-  "Deanery Carlisle"
signed &inscribed at on mount:-  "W H Nutter The Fratry and Deanery, Carlisle."
item:-  Tullie House Museum : 1970.80.18
Image © Tullie House Museum
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