Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Nuneaton Priory
Hob Uid: 336223
Location : Warwickshire Nuneaton and Bedworth Non Civil Parish
Grid Ref : SP3556092060
Summary : Fontevraultine double house founded circa 1155 by Robert Bossu, Earl of Leicester when the convent was transferred from Kintbury. In 1494 it was placed under Benedictine rule, but continued to rank as a separate order. It was dissolved in 1536. St Mary's was one of only four Fontrevaultine houses founded in England. Little remains of the 12th century priory church other than the four massive pillars which once supported the tower, and are now in the church built over the site in 1876. The priory forms a rectangular complex surrounded by a boundary bank. The infirmary is sited to the east of the main complex, under what is now Priory Meadow. Excavations and survey have recovered the plan of the claustral complex and other buildings. The cloister was to the south of the church, the brothers and nuns quires being further West of the current West end of the later church. The chapter house, slype and warming house formed the East range of the cloister, the guest hall and probable abbesses lodgings the West side, and the kitchen probably stood in the South side. The brewhouse and misericord stood as separate buildings to the South of the cloister. Parts of theprecinct exiat as an earthwork.
More information : [SP 3556 9206] Remains of St.MARY'S ABBEY [LB] (Benedictine Founded c.1158). (1) An Alien Priory of Benedictine Monks and Nuns of the Order of Fontevrault. Founded c.1155. Dissolved 1539. Early writers state that the brethren were not monks but a community of secular chaplains. No authority is quoted for this statement, which is contrary to all the customs of the Order and it has been presumed that the chapains were priest monks; though seculars may have been admitted. This was a very large house with 93 nuns in 1234, and 89 nuns with a Prior and 6 chaplains in 1328.(2) The Church of St. Mary incorporates remains of the church of the Nunnery. The monastic buildings, of which very scanty remains survive, were on the normal lines. In the field south and east of the churchyard and vicarage gardens there are disturbed mounds and banks suggesting the site of the Infirmary, etc. but no masonry is exposed. (2-5) The lowest courses of the jambs of the chapterhouse entrance have recently been excavated.(3) Sir H. Brakespear whilst superintending repairs to the ruins [in the first half of the 20c.] discovered a set of 9 tiles forming a wheel of fortune laid to form part of the floor of the Sanctuary.(2) GP.AO/F/51/31 G.P. AO/F/51/30 As described and illustrated. The church is in normal use. Published survey of earthworks (1/1250) revised. (6) Scheduled as 'Nuneaton Priory (site of)'. (7) Detailed description of church (8) Detailed report on excavations and survey of Priory, plus a discussion on the medieval topography of the priory and the town of Nuneaton (9) Notes on further excavation (10 - 12) St Mary's was one of only four Fontrevaultine houses founded in England. Little remains of the C12 priory church other than the four massive pillars which once supported the tower, and are now in the church built over the site in 1876. The priory forms a rectangular complex surrounded by a boundary bank. The infirmary is sited to the east of the main complex, under what is now Priory Meadow. Scheduled, No. 17550. (13)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : OS 1/1250, 1965.
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Source Number : 11
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Source details : CBA 8. W Mids Arch 29 1986 55 (M Jones)
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Source Number : 12
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Source details :
Page(s) : 165
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Vol(s) : 31, 1987

Source Number : 13
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Source details : English Heritage Schedule of Ancient Monuments Amendment Dec-91
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Source Number : 3
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Page(s) : 170-2
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Source Number : 4
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Page(s) : 365
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Source Number : 5
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Source details : P.B. Cratwin
Page(s) : 126-7
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Vol(s) : 65, 1943-4

Source Number : 6
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Source details : F1 FRH 19-APR-67
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Source Number : 7
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Source details : DOE AM's in England 1973 216
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Source Number : 8
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Source details : DOE (HHR) 10th list for Dist of Nuneaton and Bedworth, Warw Feb 1988,35
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Source Number : 9
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Source details : D Andrews, A Cook, V Quant, J C Thorn, E A Veasey
Page(s) : 55-82
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Vol(s) : 91, 1981

Source Number : 10
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Source details :
Page(s) : 211
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Vol(s) : 26, 1982

Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date :
Monument End Date : 1412
Monument Start Date : 1155
Monument Type : Fontevraultine Double House, Priory
Evidence : Documentary Evidence, Sub Surface Deposit

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date :
Monument End Date : 1539
Monument Start Date : 1412
Monument Type : Benedictine Nunnery, Fontevraultine Double House, Priory, Chapter House, Slype, Privy House, Warming House, Kitchen, Guest House, Brewhouse, Refectory, Precinct
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date :
Monument End Date :
Monument Start Date : 1876
Monument Type : Church
Evidence : Extant Building

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : WA 105
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Warwickshire)
External Cross Reference Number : 1655
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 17005
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SP 39 SE 7
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1949-01-01
End Date : 1950-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1967-04-19
End Date : 1967-04-19

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1981-01-01
End Date : 1981-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1981-01-01
End Date : 1981-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1986-01-01
End Date : 1986-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 1986-01-01
End Date : 1986-12-31

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

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

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 1991-01-01
End Date : 1991-12-31

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

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 1994-01-01
End Date : 1994-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1994-01-01
End Date : 1994-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
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 : ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY
Start Date : 2005-01-01
End Date : 2005-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2006-01-01
End Date : 2006-12-31

Historic England Research Records

Nuneaton Priory