The Ancient House (also known locally as the Norman House) is at the rear of 67 High Street and is now attached to it, forming part of that property. Its east wall (pictured) can be seen from Swan Yard, just off Swan Street. It is a Grade 1 listed building and much more information on it can be found at:
It is of Norman origin (c.1080) with many later modifications. It was built outside the Abbey walls, but at the same time, and was probably ecclesiastical in purpose. It is built of ragstone, with tufa blocks where needed structurally. The bottom right hand corner of the east wall is particularly interesting, and is shown enlarged below.
Evidence of a semi-circular tufa arch indicates the top of a doorway, and a tufa impost block supporting the arch can be clearly seen. Normally the impost block would be at roughly shoulder height, indicating that the doorway most likely extends downwards to ground level at the time of building – about a metre below ground level in 2021.
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