Historic Droitwich Its Streets and People

The south west range of Priory House is the oldest part, dated stylistically to around 1400.  It is a two storey range with an upper floor solar, a single space open to the roof originally, with magnificent timbers giving a decorative appearance.  The trusses have vertical wall posts from sole plates (horizontal timbers along the base of the walls) at the ground floor up to the wall plates (horizontal timbers along the top of the first floor walls), and support the principal rafters on the underside of which are fixed arched braces going up to a high collar which joins the principal rafters.  The structurally significant timbers still give an impression of light and space.

Substantial oak timbers were used for the structural components, and it seems that this building exemplified a high standard of mediaeval carpentry.  It is no doubt significant that it survived, despite lack of maintenance and neglect, for well over 500 years before major repairs were undertaken. 

Freddie Charles theorised that this range was part of a mediaeval complex arranged around a courtyard open to the street on the north side, but with ranges to the south (the open hall) and east (the service range).  The open hall had not survived, but he thought the south east range had continued although much modified.  We now know from dendrochronology that this range is later than the north (street frontage) range, so late 16th century; if therefore his theory is correct, the mediaeval south east range also did not survive but was replaced perhaps 200 years later.