More information : (SU 48412926) St. Mary's Abbey (GT) (Site of). (1) Nunminster (Abbey of Benedictine Nuns) Founded. c.900, refounded 963, dissolved 1539. Trinity College (Secular) founded before 1318 and sited on the N. Side of the Nun's churchyard was probably connected with it (see SU 42 NE 194) (2) St. Mary's Abbey (Nunnaminster) was situated to the NE of the Cathedral Priory, in what is now the grounds of Abbey House; the nun's cemetery, is now occupied by the Guildhall. The Abbey was used as a quarry after the Dissolution and the site much dug over, especially in the 18th c. when Abbey House was built and there was a flourishing silk mill on the Southern part of the site. (3-6) No remains - site only. (7) SU 484292. Excavations in Colebrook Street in advance of an extension to Council Offices, have located 12.0m. of a major Saxon wall, probably part of Nunnaminster. The wall lay over earlier layers of possible domestic Saxon occupation. (8-9)
St Mary's Abbey or Nunnaminster probably founded by Queen Aelswith (died 902-3) and completed by Edward the Elder probably in 908. There was a chapel of St Peter in the nunnery garden circa 951-3, probably on site of the later St Peter `Colebrochstret'. In 963, Bishop Aethelwold rebuilt the abbey and enlarged the precinct. In 1108 it was re-dedicated but burnt down during the civil war of 1141 and rebuilt. Dissolved in 1539. (10-11) |