Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Cleeve Abbey
Hob Uid: 188617
Location : Somerset Somerset West and Taunton Old Cleeve
Grid Ref : ST0474040633
Summary : Cleeve Abbey was founded in 1198 by Cistercian monks. The abbey was at its peak in the 13th and 14th centuries, with up to 28 monks and numerous lay brothers, the latter living both here and on outside estates (or granges). In 1536, the abbey was dissolved by Henry VIII as part of the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Although little remains of the church above ground except low walls and foundations, the east and south ranges of the claustral ranges are remarkably complete. The buildings are mainly of two dates. The east range belongs principally to the 13th century and is notable for the survival of its dorter on the first floor. The south range was remodelled after the middle of the 15th century and contains a first floor refectory with a magnificent timber roof. The west alley of the cloister and the upper storey of the gatehouse, both rebuilt by the last abbot, are among the latest monastic buildings in the country. Please see the separate child records for the individual components of the abbey. The Abbey is in the care of English Heritage.
More information : (ST 04744067) St Mary's Abbey (NR) Cistercian (remains of) (NAT) (ST 04754071) Church (NR) (remains of) (NAT) (ST 04684171) Gatehouse (NR) (ST 04774084) Moat (NR) (ST 04884057) Moat (NR) (1) Cleeve Abbey - full description. (2) Founded 1198. Dissolved 1537. Cistercian. (3) St Joseph AP (4) (See illustration). (4) Moat and fish pond resurveyed at 1/2500. (5) Cleeve Abbey was founded in 1198 for Cistercian monks from Revesby, Lincolnshire (TF 26 SE 1) and dissolved in 1537. It was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and named Vallis Florida, although throughout its history it has been generally known as Cleeve Abbey. The east and south ranges of the claustral buildings are remarkably complete, and are mainly of two dates, the east range principally 13th century and the south range remodelled after the mid-15th century. The west alley of the cloister and the upper storey of the gatehouse, both rebuilt by the last abbot (1507-37) are amongst the latest monastic buildings in the country. Little remains of the church except low walls and foundations. The abbey precinct was bounded on the west by the Washford river and on the north and east by a moat known as the Black Ditch. It is possible the moat was the original course of the river (b). The buildings as they remain give an impressive example of a small Cistercian house just before the Reformation. They are in the care of HBMC and open to the public. Excavation on the site took place in 1875-6, on the farmery and chapel by St John Hope before World War 1 and in the church between the wars. In 1980-2 excavation by C Guy for DOE revealed the reredorter which was shown to have been demolished soon after the dissolution. There were traces of post-dissolution activity but nothing substantial was constructed in the area. (6-15) ST 047406. Cleeve Abbey. Scheduled. (16) ST04SW OLD CLEEVE CP ABBEY ROAD WASHFORD 1/56 Cleeve Abbey, remains of Cistercian Abbey of St Mary covering about 28 acres. 22.5.69 GV I Remains of Cistercian abbey. Founded 1198, remodelled C15 and early C16, dissolved 1537 when church demolished, apart from South transept and South aisle wall, incorporated into farmhouse, altered early C17, farmbuildings to South West remodelled C18, excavated and restored 1875-6, placed in Department of the Environment guardianship 1951. Red sandstone coursed rubble, slate roofs. Plan: gatehouse, remains of walls to inner and outer courts, cloister - foundations of church and South aisle wall with collaction seat North side, east range dorter over chapterhouse, sacristy and library, common room in angle with south range, frater over individual cells with heraldic tiled pavement of earlier trater projecting from South West corner, latter farmbuildings now ticket office and administration projecting South East, West remains of cloister alley. Gatehouse: gabled, 2 storeys, one bay; C13, altered C14, upper storey rebuilt and buttresses added early C16. Chamfered pointed arch opening, stepped buttresses, large C20 raking buttress North front, 4-light mullioned window opening first floor. North face half relief Virgin and child, South crucifiction flanked by empty cusped headed niches; early C16 arch braced roof with 3 tiers of curved wind braces and moulded wall plate. Cloister: Dorter range, C13, altered C15; 2 storeys, 10 bays; lancets first floor, groundfloor openings include centre right entrance to chapter house, quadripartite vault in 2 bays, ribs springing from moulded corbels with short shafts; here and in the barrel vaulted sacristy to North, remains of C13 painted decoration are visible. Day stairs right to common room right and dorter left. Frater: C13, altered C15; 2 storeys, first floor left five 3-light mullioned and transomed windows with flattened cusped ogee heads, groundfloor right opening to stone stair, and other to individual study chamber. Interior: splendid 5 bay arch-braced roof, divided by subsidiary arch bracing, richly moulded with half and three-quarter length crowned angels forming sole-pieces to the overhanging arch braces, carried on moulded brackets and stone corbels, originally intended to be completed on a wagon roof but left unfinished. To right of stairs chamber with extensive remains of C15 painted decoration and gallery with moulded rail. Cloister alley; later C13, altered C16; 6 bays remains unroofed. A small abbey by medieval standards, notable for the extensive survival of monastic buildings including the splendidly roofed frater, the rare survival of a monastic dormitory, dorter, C13 and C15 painted decorative and C13 heraldic tiled floor. Scheduled Ancient Monument (Somerset County No 31). (Photograph in NMR); Gilyard-Beer, Cleeve Abbey, 1960; VCH Somerset, vol 5 forthcoming; Country life January 6 and 13, 1923). 1/57 Shelter shed abutting South West corner of remains of Cleeve Abbey GV II Shelter shed. C18, perhaps earlier. Red sandstone random rubble, corrugated iron roof, circular piers partially rendered. Single storey, 5 bays. Interior not accessible at time of survey. Primarily listed for group value as it abuts the South West corner of the remains of Cleeve Abbey (qv). (17) (Centred ST 047406) Remains of (NAT) Cleeve Abbey (NR) (Cistercian founded 1198) (NAT) (18) Please see the additional bibliography which includes excavation reports. (17-64) The ruins of the Cistercian abbey of Cleeve has the most complete and unaltered remains of monastic buildings in England. The remains include the gatehouse, 15th century refectory, a painted chamber, great dormitory, warming room, sacristy and an earlier 13th century refectory floor with heraldic tiles. (65) English Heritage Guide to Cleeve Abbey, updated 2000. (66) Article published in 2001 concerning a survey of medieval floor-tiles from the abbey, showing a much larger range of designs and fabric types than had been previously thought. (67) Synthesis of investigations at the site carried out between 1995-2003, published 2007. The main areas of investigation were the south transept, the south range, the farmhouse; elements of the east and west ranges, in and around the cloister and the gatehouse. Among the results of the work was the indentification of a large foundation below the existing south transept, which has been interpreted as possibly representing part of an earlier church of about 1200AD. Excavations in the area of the cloisters revealed medieval burials and surfaces, and also evidence of Post-Medieval secular use. A study of the gatehouse indicated that more of its main 13th century fabric survived than had been previously thought. The report includes numerous plans, elevation drawings and photographs of architectural details. (68)

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Source details : OS 6" 1962
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Founded in 1198
Monument End Date : 1198
Monument Start Date : 1198
Monument Type : Abbey, Cistercian Monastery
Evidence : Ruined Building, Sub Surface Deposit

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Dissolved in 1537
Monument End Date : 1537
Monument Start Date : 1537
Monument Type : Cistercian Monastery, Abbey
Evidence : Ruined Building, Sub Surface Deposit

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : SO 31
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Somerset)
External Cross Reference Number : 33918
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 28519
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : ViewFinder
External Cross Reference Number : K990877
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Listed Building List Entry Legacy Uid
External Cross Reference Number : 264814
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : EH Property Number
External Cross Reference Number : 252
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : ST 04 SW 17
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type :

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type :

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1875-01-01
End Date : 1876-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1914-01-01
End Date : 1914-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1930-01-01
End Date : 1939-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1965-05-27
End Date : 1965-05-27

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1979-01-01
End Date : 1979-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1980-01-01
End Date : 1982-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1987-01-01
End Date : 1987-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1988-01-01
End Date : 1988-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1989-01-01
End Date : 1989-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1993-01-01
End Date : 1993-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 1995-01-01
End Date : 1995-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1995-01-01
End Date : 1995-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : MANAGEMENT SURVEY
Start Date : 1997-01-01
End Date : 1997-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1998-01-01
End Date : 1998-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 1999-01-01
End Date : 1999-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1999-01-01
End Date : 1999-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2001-01-01
End Date : 2001-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2002-01-01
End Date : 2002-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY
Start Date : 2003-01-01
End Date : 2003-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 2007-01-01
End Date : 2007-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 2009-01-01
End Date : 2009-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2011-01-01
End Date : 2012-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2014-01-01
End Date : 2014-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2015-01-01
End Date : 2015-12-31