The house dates from the early 16th century. It was built with stones taken from the ruins of older buildings on the site. There are still a few masonry fragments standing at the western end of the the grounds (Pictured on our 'Gardens in Winter' page.). The most substantial of these, in the northwest corner, are of an undercroft which probably dates from the 17th century or earlier. The original house comprised a high single-storey hall and a parlour with a chamber above to the east. The hall is now the Garden Room, the stairwell beyond and the rooms above. The parlour has been incorporated into the Drawing Room. The hall was divided into two storeys in the late 17th century. The staircase at the east end of the old hall is a later addition, dating from about 1730.
The buildings on the north and east sides of the courtyard were added in the 17th century and much altered during the 19th century. The western end was largely rebuilt in the 18th century over an undercroft which is probably a century older.
During the 18th century a coach house was built onto the southeast corner of the house. This has since been incorporated into the main building and together with the old parlour, forms the Drawing Room. The single storey entrance passageway was added in the 19th century, the lower part of the original north wall is now inside, hence the old entrance way with its 17th century doorway, reset in the 18th century, is now the entrance to the Garden Room and the Drawing Room. The roofs are 18th century or later.
Conversion into an hotel in the 1970s required more alterations especially in plumbing. Wherever possible the work was done in sympathy with the older fabric.
Some architectural features
The south wall of the hall: From the terrace you can see that it is built of rubble, partly with a battered (ie. sloping) plinth.
The eastern two-light window is original, the upper part was destroyed when the hall was divided. The other two windows in this wall are 17th century, their sills were lowered two hundred years later. In this wall also are the scars where buttresses have at some time been removed.
The north wall of the hall: The doorway in the north wall, now in the passageway, opening onto the staircase of about 1730.
At some date there was an attempt to make the north aspect of the house, facing into the courtyard, symmetrical. The addition of the entrance passageway masks the effect. Notice the fine doorway behind the reception desk.
Stone: Most of the rest of the house is faced with Purbeck ashlar which is generally of indifferent quality; however there is some fine stone to be seen in lintels and fireplaces.
The Courtyard: The 17th century looplights in the undercroft on the north side of the courtyard.
Also look out for: Three 17th century doorways in the north range of the building. The moulded beams of the divided ceiling in the Drawing Room. The fine fireplace also in the Drawing Room.
Floors: Look beneath your feet. Notice how many flagstones carry patterns of wear that do not match up with modern traffic. These must be relaid stones from elsewhere on the site.
Garden Walls: Garden and boundary walls have been built with any odd leftover stones and show a crazy variation in size and shape. See the walls of the boathouse garden and, just to the north, the inside of the boundary wall close to the main entrance.
Much of this description was derived from The Royal Commission on Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset. See especially V2 Pt.2 p317 where there is a detailed treatment together with a plan of the house.
The Boathouse
Although usually described as a 16th century clay barn The Boathouse has probably been a general warehouse and an agricultural building as much as a clay barn.
Clay was, and still is, a major export from Wareham and used to be transported by water on shoal draught barges. With riverbank and landward entrances and a small lading dock (now the terrace) the building was designed for transshipment. It is unreasonable to suppose that only one commodity passed the doors and that goods passed in only one direction.
Despite its name, The Boathouse proved unsuitable for storing any but small vessels that had to be manhandled awkwardly in and out of the water. Conversion to luxury hotel suites preserved an humble building that has stood on the riverbank at least as long as The Priory itself.
Only the shell of the building is original. Internal arrangements must have changed several times in its history and the present conversion to hotel accommodation is unlikely to be the final chapter.
A stroll along the far bank of the river presents a view of the boathouse in which the original purpose is easily perceived.
An undercroft is a (usually mediaeval) vaulted chamber built partly, sometimes wholly, underground. Frequently the upper parts of the walls are above ground level so that the undercroft can be lit with natural light. In consequence the 'ground' floor of the building is raised slightly and access is usually up a short flight of steps. Back to text.
