A front door and reception area were added in 1997 to
designs by Patrick Griffin.
| DOUAI ABBEY |
|
The first part of the monastery to be constructed was opened in 1966 to designs by Sir Frederick
Gibberd. A complete monastery plan had been commissioned of which only part
was built, comprising the south and east cloisters, two main living
blocks, the bursary, and the calefactory.
A front door and reception area were added in 1997 to
designs by Patrick Griffin. |
|
| After the closure and sale of the school in 1999,
more building was essential, so a new plan
for a completed monastery was commissioned from David Richmond.
He created a new masterplan, based on the whole monastic building tradition going back to the
St Gall plan of c830. This plan was based on a series of courtyards, and created a clear
distinction between the monastic enclosure and the accommodation for guest. The first phase, comprising monastic and guest refectories, kitchen, and additional guest accommodation was opened in 2006. The second phase, the library, north and west cloisters, was completed in 2010. The Abbey Church lies at the centre of the complex, symbolising that 'nothing is to be preferred to the Work of God'. |
|
 The masterplan. The church is at the center, the library to the north, the refectories and kitchen to the south, the main living blocks to the east, and the reception and conference rooms to the west. |
| |  The south east corner. |
 The refectory courtyard. |
 The novitiate terrace. |
 The fish pond in the guest courtyard. |
 The Abbey Church from the guest courtyard. |
 The library garden from the north-east. |
 The calefactory courtyard showing the south Gibberd building, the Abbey Church and the east cloister. |
 The calefactory and the south Gibberd building. |
 The Abbey Church from the east with the north Gibberd building. |
| Back to Top |
To continue the tour
|
Back to LOOK AROUND | Back to WELCOME and INDEX |
revised 19/01/12
Webmaster, Douai Abbey, Upper Woolhampton, Reading, Berks. RG7 5TQ