HER 10117 - REIGATE PRIORY

Purchased by Reigate Corporation in 1945. Now a Council School. The exact date of the foundation of the medieval Priory is not known, but it was prior to the death of William de Warrenne in 1240. At the dissolution it was granted to William, 1st Lord Howard of Effingham, who built a house on the site in which some parts of the 13th century Priory were incorporated. His son, Charles, 2nd Lord Howard of Effingham, later 1st Earl of Nottingham, who defeated the Spanish Armada, lived here and is buried in Reigate Parish Church. John Foxe, author of the "Book of Martyrs", also lived in the house for a time when tutor to the family. Archbishop Usher died there in 1656. James II, Duke of York, occasionally occupied the house between 1662 and 1672. In 1766-1779 the house was rebuilt by Richard Ireland, who entertained John Wesley there in 1771. Substantially the exterior is of this date, though some parts of Howard's Tudor house remain and are visible at the back, facing the courtyard. Also a 5-light mullioned and transomed window remains in an internal wall. Half H-shaped, south-facing building of 2 storeys, 11 windows. Reigate stone, stuccoed. Wood modillion eaves cornice and central pediment holding an achievement of arms in a panel surrounded by 3 busts in shell headed niches. Tiled roof with lead ridges, hipped above the 2-bay wings with angle pilasters. Replaced sash windows with glazing bars on 1st floor, casements with transoms and glazing bars below; in moulded wood architraves. Doorway in the centre with curved pediment over containing a cartouche in the tympanum. In the angles made by the wings are little curved bays containing tiny windows. The North front has been cemented but shows its Tudor origin in 2 gables containing casement windows with small square leaded panes. The other windows are sash windows with glazing bars intact. Inside, a magnificent carved chimney piece designed by Holbein and brought from Blechingley Place; 2 other 17th century fireplaces brought from Castle Ditch near Ledbury; and a fine early 18th century staircase with wall and ceiling decorations by Verrio and Corinthian screens top and bottom; and a back staircase of late 17th century type. At right angles to this front of the house is a red brick wing of 3 storeys, 5 windows, and 3 gables added or rebuilt by Isabel Caroline, daughter of the 3rd Earl Somers (Lady Henry Somerset) in 1895. The other building at right angles to this and parallel to the house was presumably stables, though it has more the appearance of a real tennis court or riding school. 18th century. Red brick. Stringcourse. Coved cemented eaves cornice. Hipped tiled roof. 7 modern windows at ground floor level. Little round openings above them and bull's eye windows at 1st floor level with an elliptical window in the centre. Doorway in moulded architrave surround below this window. The court-yard is completed on the west side by a red brick wall with fine crested wrought iron railing and 3 pairs of stuccoed gate piers, brought here from the Bell Street entrance to the house. The outer ones, which are for pedestrians, are rusticated and surmounted by vases; the centre ones, which flank the carriage entrance, panelled and surmounted by the figures of eagles. Listing NGR: TQ2533050030

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