 English Heritage considers the building to be " the finest medieval gatehouse in Cumbria " . It closely resembles the larger fortifications at Thornton and Tynemouth abbeys , forming a three @-@ storey building built of coursed red sandstone , and now stands on the edge of the modern Wetheral Priory Farm , which occupies the site of the original priory . The gatehouse is 12 @.@ 5 by 8 @.@ 9 metres ( 41 by 29 ft ) across , with the floors linked by a spiral staircase in the north @-@ east corner , and an adjacent barrel vaulted cellar . The marks of the range of buildings that once ran alongside the gatehouse can be seen on the external walls , and the gatehouse is topped by battlements . 
