There are no remains of the Abbey except for the
gatehouse and
tower, which by the architecture and
arms sculptured upon the building, show it is of much more modern date than the foundation of the house. This tower is not square, but oblong, having an exploratory
turret on each corner. The north side is ornamented with a niche, canopied, capable of receiving a statue five feet high: most probably it contained the
effigies of the dedicatory Virgin. Beneath is a figure of an
angel in
relief, with expanded wings. Over this entrance are shields of arms, a cross, supposed to be the arms of the Vesci family, and a
Cross moline. On the south side, in a niche, is the figure of one of the Religious, of the order of
White Friars of Premonstratenses, in his proper habilament, in fairly good preservation. This front is ornamented with shields of arms, the arms of
Brabant adopted by the Percys, with the arms of
Lucys quarterly, the principal; and also the arms of Vesci. A gate opens to the east, on each side of which are the figures of
cherubs supporting armorial shields: on this front is also a canopy and niche for a statue. Here are the arms of Brabant and the arms of the Lucys on separate shields. At this entrance, as also on the north side, were
machicolations; and in the centre of the arching of the gateway is a square aperture, from which the possessors could annoy assailants. The
masonry of this tower is excellent; the gates of
lattice braced with iron still remain. Above the gate going into the court of the house is an
escutcheon of white
marble, much injured by the weather, but retaining some marks of the sculptor, to distinguish that it once contained the
crest of the Doubledays, an arm in armour suspending a
mullet. The antiquity of this piece has been much doubted, but the materials determine that point clearly. ==Abbots==