Scheduled Ancient Monument: CLARE PRIORY (UNINHABITED PORTIONS) (SF53)

House of Austin Friars, founded 1248 by Richard de Clare and probably the first of its order in England. Suppressed 1538. A well-equipped house, benefiting from royal patronage. Prior's house converted into a dwelling house about 1604, has remains of hall (divided into two storeys 1500) and C14 work at service end. A square room incorporates part of S range (?). Uninhabited remains (i.e. Scheduled area): a) S wall of church, and screen between quire and S chapel or transept (?) much patched as garden wall, but containing tomb (? Joan of Acre, daughter of Edward I) and sedilia? b) N and S wall (? E wall of cloister with entrance to chapter house vestibule). c) Large, two storied building, now thrown into one, with separate cross compartment at E end. Circa 1300 with Med roof. Blind arcade at end. (? Hospitium).