Until its demolition in 1787. Blackfriars' Gate was one of the most
prominent structures on the north-east side of St Peter's Street.
A later eighteenth century engraving indicates that it was a
substantial masonry building faced with knapped flint, with a
simple horizontal band carved with four-petalled flower
ornament in the middle. and two niches. one above the other
each side of the central arch.
The Blackfriars' Monastery. founded in 1236 (see C.F Palmer
`The Friar-preachers of Black Friars of Canterbury', Arch. Cant
13 (1880), 81-96 and A.R. Martin `The Dominican Priory at
Canterbury'. Arch. J. 86 (1930), 152-77) was contained within
a precinct bounded on the west by St Peter's Lane. The principal
gate to the establishment was sited at the intersection of The Friars
with St Peter's Street. The foundations of this gate, probably
newly built in 1356 (Palmer. op.cit.87) were excavated during
January 1987 by the Trust in advance of the paving scheme for
St Peter's. The excavation, funded by the City Council, was
largely staffed by members of our
M.S.C. team under the
supervision of Alan Ward.
The gate piers of mortared chalk blockwork were located
approximately 20 cm. below the present street surface. Despite
extensive damage to the gate foundations by modern service
trenches, a carriageway width of c. 2.6 m. (8 ft. 6 in.) was
indicated. The gate piers 1.4 m: (c. 4 ft. 6 in.) thick were
well-founded, extending below the excavated horizon (c. 2.0 m.
below the present street). Rammed gravel and mortar deposits
spanned the piers and merged with contemporary street
metallings either side of the gate. The surface of a 40 cm. thick
construction deposit of abraded mortar and chalk rubble was
encountered 0.70 m. below the present street level. This in turn
overlay a sequence of beaten earth and clay floors, associated
with a structure which immediately pre-dated gate construction.
The foundations of the gate have now been marked out in the
new paving. This will not only draw the visitor's attention to the
site of one of Canterbury's `lost' monuments, but will protect the
surviving gate foundations from damage by future service
trenching.
Thanks are extended to the City Council for funding the
excavation and to David Latham and Dennis Button of the City
Engineer's staff, for their help and advice.