More information : (SS 24052490) Hartland Abbey and remains of (NAT).
St Nectan's Abbey (NR).
(SS 23762488) Abbey Fish Pond (NR). (1)
(SS 240249) Deer Park (NAT). (2)
St Nectan's Abbey founded originally before 1066 for secular canons, being replaced 1161-9 by Augustinian canons. Dissolved in 1539. (3,4)
After dissolution in 1539 the buildings were despoiled and the cloisters converted into a manor house. There was additional building in 1705 which was finally incorporated into a Gothic mansion in 1779. The abbey church extended further east than the present house. (5)
The Abbott of Hartland had two deer parks. Hartland Abbey Park in 1882 covered 55 acres with 80 deer. (6,7)
Hartland Abbey house is, externally, of 18th and 19th century appearance and some fragments of masonry from the Medieval abbey are in Stoke church.
No Medieval park pale could be found and the Tithe Award has no significant names in respect of the abbot's parks. The "Abbey Fish Pond" authorised by the OS. seems to have no other documentation. It is a rectangular ditch, 25.0m by 38.0m, and at most 1.0m deep. It is now dry and generally 5.0m wide. The ditch encloses an area in the manner of a moat but is at least 1.0m above the Abbey River and could only be fed from some other source. This may have been the overflow from St Nectan's Well which could have been diverted eastwards, but there is no sign of this. The small rectangular pit, 0.5m deep, situated on the north side of the earthwork is not connected by any channel. Not only the situation but the construction is illogical for a monastic fishpond and unless some firm evidence can be found to support the published entry it seems possibly no more than an 18th or 19th century ornamental work.
Published 1:2500 survey revised on PFD. (8)
Although there is no direct evidence for the foundation date of St Nectan's Abbey, it is likely that it was founded between 500 and 560 AD and that St Nectan's Church (SS 22 SW 13) functioned as an old English minster and as such is unlikely to have been founded after ca.730 AD. (9)
Hartland Abbey. Formerly listed as Cloister ruins. Grade I. (10) |