A Description of the House

Beyond the east end of the Cathedral stood a block of monastic buildings, where for several centuries Priors entertained their most notable guests. The only portion still standing is the large hall (or Aula) called Meister Omers, which was built in the 13th Century. The kitchen, at the west end, has the widest fireplace arch in England and Scotland (a single span of 21 feet 8 inches). The huge stones still as solid and unshaken as when they were fitted together over seven centuries ago.

The hall had a noble roof with tie beams, king-posts and struts, much like a contemporary open-timbered roof. The only camera (or chamber) in the hall was over the kitchen, which was divided into two rooms. There Master Omer had a lodging and an office for his documents where he could be seen on business.

In 1399 (two years before the death of Geoffrey Chaucer) another document records that Prior Thomas Chillenden repaired the hall and extended it eastward, inserting two oriel windows. In 1468, a French warship near Dover threatened a landing and the City Chamberlain's account-book has an entry ''for carting large stones from the place called Master Omer's to Queningate hard by, to strengthen the fortification of the wall''.

In medieval times the main doorway stood on the north side and the Prior's guests entered by it, coming from their apartments beyond the hall. They made use of a picturesque newel-staircase, which had long stood at that angle outside the hall.

After the Dissolution and the destruction of this annexe, the north door and newel staircase were (and still are) used to reach to floors intruded into the hall itself, the first in Queen Elizabeth's reign, the second with the dormer windows in Charles I's time. The first floor carried a reception gallery 60 feet long with bedrooms opening out of it. So Meister Omers become the residence of the Canon holding the eleventh stall in the Cathedral Choir.