Stiffleaf's photos with the keyword: coggeshall abbey

the capella ante portas of coggeshall abbey. the victorian south doorway replaced a cart entrance from its time as a barn, for years thought of as reused roman, most brick here is mediaeval.

brave the unfriendly owner to view this early brickwork from the public footpath that she wishes was not on her land! this building was seperate from but at the southern extremity of the east range, and is now a semi derelict and very private barn. it seems to be aligned with the river blackwater, which may even have passed through it before the main reredorter to the north became a farmhouse; could it have been the reredorter of the infirmary ? see also the capella ante portas down the road for brick of the same period.

the unusual layout and early brickwork of these abbey remains are difficult to work out, especially so as the only views are from a public footpath. the 3 arches run south to north and were an extension at the south end of the east range, whilst the block on the right may have been the reredorter reaching out from the dorter to the river blackwater. the owners strongly dissuade the curious vocally .