Ancient Priors

Ancient Priors is a restaurant housed in a medieval building on Crawley's High Street, originally constructed around 1450 as a hall house. The interior features multiple dining areas across different floor levels with exposed wooden beams and thick stone walls throughout.

The building dates from 1450 and served as the White Hart Inn during the 1600s before being converted to a furniture shop in the 1700s. These successive uses shaped the structure as it exists today.

The building displays medieval construction methods with exposed timber framing and thick walls characteristic of Sussex craftsmanship. Visitors can observe these traditional techniques directly while moving through the various dining levels.

The restaurant operates from Tuesday through Sunday with lunch and dinner service offering traditional British cuisine. The multiple floor levels and uneven surfaces require careful attention when navigating through the building.

Archaeological investigations of the building uncovered hidden rooms whose original purpose remains a mystery to this day. These secret chambers reveal how complex the medieval use of this house was.

Location: Crawley

GPS coordinates: 51.11390,-0.19030

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:42