The Medieval Undercroft in Bridge Street
Between the Wife of Bath and the Methodist Hall there is a hidden treasure that even Imperial College cannot remove and sell – it is a medieval Undercroft.
Wye Undercroft 2010
Currently it is shrouded beneath a temporary work shelter but we have it on good authority that it is undergoing something of a restoration. A restoration has been some time in the offing and as far back as 1988 the Canterbury Archaeological Trust Ltd carried out a survey and again in 1998 Mr. Rupert Austin reported a survey(1). It is from this last report that we base this current account and we hope that the restoration will be completed. Although the Undercroft is hidden beneath the property of Mr. Patrick Keegan, a local architect, we can all feel that we have an interest in our cumulative heritage.
Generally undercrofts are found, and valued as important historical assets, in towns, but, as Mr. Austen has stated, undercrofts in villages are not unknown. An undercroft is usually a vaulted chamber that are sited either above or below ground level, sometimes they may simply be cellars with beamed ceilings. Those that survive locally are from about the twelfth century and continued into the fifteenth century when brick cellars replaced them. Sometimes they were used as alehouses and taverns, domestic or commercial storage and religious worship.
Wye Undercroft (R Austen Canterbury Archeological Trust 1999)
The Wye undercroft has a vaulted ceiling and is situated almost entirely underground. It is about five metres broad and about three metres high with access provided by a small spiral stair at the rear. Despite some superficial decay it is clear that the structure is built in the perpendicular style. The vault comprises of six sections each rib rests on pillar-like supports called corbels. The ribs meet in the centre of the vault in a boss that carries a floral motif. The ribs, corbels and boss are made of ragstone and the webbing between of blocks of chalk cut with an axe. The walls are made of knapped field flints. The front (north) wall has its original features including a large street door and a low arch although the doorway is now blocked by brickwork. There are small, barred windows, once covered by hinged shutters. The windowsills are, interestingly about half a metre below the current street level, which suggests that the street level has risen since the fifteenth century.
Wye Undercroft Plan (Canterbury Archeological Trust Ltd)
Wye Undercroft Section (Canterbury Archeological Trust Ltd)
The southern wall has a small gothic doorway from which the door has been removed. Beyond the door was probably a larger and used space. Indeed the present work may very well enhance the information about this larger structure (including a possible stair tower) in the rear. It is also interesting that the construction of the rear wall differs from the rest of the structure – it is made of Caen stone. The rear door also has a pointed two-centred arch. Perhaps the main undercroft is a later phase of a much earlier thirteenth century building? Earlier surveys leave the possibility that any previous structures may have extended to the west. Mr. Austen reported that there was a picture entitled “Old House Near the Pump” that shows a timber framed building that possibly stood above the undercroft. If anyone has a copy of this perhaps they could communicate it to us.
So the Wye undercroft probably comes from the fifteenth century and was part of a substantial house. It served as a secure and fireproof domestic storage space, not a living space. Access was wide enough for quite bulky items to be stored. Maybe it was part of the residence of a wealthy merchant with some social standing – we can only conjecture unless the new work reveals more artefacts.
1 R. Austen, Annual Report 1998-1999, Canterbury Archaeological Trust Ltd, Building Report, 57-59
PS Rumours abound about tunnels from Wye Church down Church Street and beyond. The latest is that a smugglers tunnel extends from Number 2 Church Street to Aldington. Some tunnel. Some smugglers!
