Reading Abbey |
| Hob Uid: 244960 | |
Location :
Reading
Non Civil Parish
|
| Grid Ref : SU7195073540 |
| Summary : The ruined remains of a Benedictine monastery, which was founded 1121 by Henry I and suppressed in 1539 by Henry VIII who used it as a royal house. It was originally intended to be England's finest Cluniac House, but transferred its allegiance to the Benedictines in the midddle of the 12th century. Excavations have discovered the east end of the abbey church and part of the cloisters, but 19th-20th century works have destroyed the west end of the church and the claustral complex. Ruins survive of the church's apsidal end, apsidal chapels and transepts, the chapterhouse and the West wall of the dorter and reredorter. The gate house to the abbey complex survives although this was rebuilt in the 19th century. (See SU 77 SW 125). Dependencies of the abbey were: Leominster, Cholsey Grange, St Mary Magdalene's Hospital and St John the Baptist's Hospital in Reading, and in Scotland, May-Pittenweem and Rindalgros. In 1539, after the dissolution of the abbey Henry VIII converted some of the buildings into a royal great house (probably based around the former abbot's house), which he visited in person as early as 1540. From about 1550 onward some of the remaining ecclesiastical buildings were demolished or partly taken down and the stonework used on bridges in the surrounding borough. In 1570 Queen Elizabeth I had extensive stables built. After the time of Elizabeth I the house began to be neglected. During the English Civil War at the seige of Reading in 1643 part of the ruined building were temporarily fortified by the Royalist troops. |
More information : [SU 7200 7355] Abbey [O.E.] (Remains of) (founded 1121) [T.I.]. (1)
Reading Abbey, Benedictine, with an early ill-defined Cluniac connection, founded in 1121 and suppressed in 16th century. Completely ruinous with the exception of a small part incorporated in the Municipal buildings and the gateway in the Forbury. Some remains of the abbey mill exist in the modern Abbey Mill in Abbey Square [SU 7188 7344]. (2-4)
The remains of Reading Abbey are as indicated on 1/2500 plan. Where not incorporated in existing occupied buildings the ruins consist of flint walling to a height of between 8 to 10 metres. For photograph of plan of Abbey before the Dissolution see AO/63/62/3. (5)
Three seasons of excavation, conducted by C F Slade (Reading County Borough), in the areas of the west walk of the cloister and of the supposed abbot's lodging. A patch of worn floor tile, in situ, was found in the cloister area; the other areas revealed 19thc destruction to a considerable depth.
Detailed plans to be lodged with Reading Museum. (6)
During excavations at Reading Abbey between 1971 & 1986 the east end of the Benedictine Abbey Church was found along with two chapels and a Medieval waterfront.Over half the area of the cloister and the west range were totally destroyed by C19th and C20th disturbances (7-18)
Additional bibliography. (19-27)
Source 28 in particular contains information about the use of the site as a royal house, subsequent demolition of "superfluous" ecclesiastical buildings and temporary use of part of the ruins as a fort at the Civil War Seige of Reading in 1643. (28)
Additional bibliography (29-31)
Reading Abbey Ruins (formerly listed under Abbots Walk) Founded 1121by Henry I and intended to be England's principal Cluniac House. Grade I (see list for details) (32)
SU 718736, SU 720734, SU 720736. Reading Abbey Scheduled No 1 (33)
Additional bibliography (34-35)
The exact changes made by Henry VIII in converting the abbey buildings are not clear. (36) |