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BARDNEY ABBEY

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Bardney Abbey was founded before 697, perhaps as double house of monks and nuns, but destroyed by the Danes circa 860. Refounded 1087 as an Alien Priory, dependent on Charroux. Raised to the rank of a Benedictine Abbey in 1115, and dissolved in 1538. Sir Robert Tyrwhitt subsequently turned part of the abbey into a secular residence with associated formal garden features. This had probably been abandoned by 1663-4 when Edward Maddison bought the site. Excavations were carried out circa 1930 by T Crowder on the church, cloister and two ranges which extend to the south. The precinct is defined by a substantial moat and earthworks of buildings and other structures, probably relating to both the monastic and post-dissolution phases, extend across the site. Bardney is thought to have been a minster in the Saxon period. Dependencies: Partney, Skendleby

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[TF 1135 7061] Site of Bardney Abbey [GT]
(Benedictine Founded AD 1115) and Priory [GT] (Founded AD 697). (1)

Founded before 697, perhaps as double house of monks and nuns.
Refounded 1087 as an Alien Priory, dependent on Charroux. Raised to
the rank of an abbey in 1115, and dissolved in 1538.
Scheduled. Six of the monks were executed after the Lincolnshire
Rising of 1536. Remains of the great gateway, west of the church,
still stand.
[See Illustrations Card for A.P.]. (2-6)

Area TF 113706 The Abbey site was partially excavated, c 1930, by Mr
T Crowder (now deceased) Some foundation walling has been left
exposed; other remains, including all the pillar bases, have been
lightly earth covered to prevent frost damage. A vast collection of
decorative stone details has been deposited in Bardney Church.

Almost all of the enclosing moat survives; foundation remains of out buildings and numerous, dried-up, fishponds complete the
complex.

Surveyed at 1:2500. (7)

No change. AM survey of 7-8-64 revised. (8)

Excavations at Bardney Abbey have revealed the plan of the Medieval
monastic buildings and associated features, some of which were
visible as earthworks and mapped from good quality air photographs.
(9a).

A substantial moat encloses the precinct, measuring 360m by 290m,
centred at TF 1135 7063. A gap in the western side of the precinct
enclosure, at TF 1124 7056, marks a gateway. There was no standing
remains of the gateway as described by authorities 2-6. Several
fishponds are associated with the precinct moat, at TF 1118 7076,
TF 1141 7077, TF 1148 7048 and TF 1148 7058. Outside the precinct,
to the south at TF 1133 7030 are more fishponds. To the west is an
extensive system of water channels, extending for 580m from
TF 1112 7050 to TF 1142 7000.

The foundations of several buildings including the Abbey and its
associated cloister and ranges of buildings were visible, centred
at TF 1134 7056. Surrounding these buildings are several ditched
enclosures. More buildings are located in the NW area of the
precinct, including a barn at TF 1125 7067.

A rabbit warren adjacent to the eastern side of the precinct, may be
associated with the priory and is recorded in TF 17 SW 27. A Post
Medieval house and walled garden, which re-used some of the monastic
buildings is recorded in TF 17 SW 18.
(Morph No. LI.577.4.1-19)

This description is based on data from the RCHME MORPH2 database.
(9-10)

Two fragments of Anglo-Saxon crosses found during excavations at the abbey are in St Lawrence's Church, Bardney.
(10-11)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1956

( 2) edited by William Page 1906 The Victoria history of the county of Lincoln, volume two

The Victoria history of the counties of England Page(s)97-8

( 3) by David Knowles and R Neville Hadcock 1971 Medieval religious houses in England and Wales

1953 edition Page(s)58

( 4) General reference

Ancient Monuments of England & Wales 1961 64 (MOW)

( 5) General reference

Knowles, D and St Joseph, J K, 1952. Monastic Sites from the Air (22-3)

( 6) Aerial photograph

St Joseph BR 94, BS 2, BS 3 undated

( 7) Field Investigators Comments

F1 FRH 19-AUG-64

( 8) Field Investigators Comments

F2 FDC 15-MAY-75

(9) General reference

Yvonne Boutwood/02-NOV-1994/RCHME: Lincolnshire NMP

(10) General reference

Laing, C.E. 1913-4 Excavations on the site of Bardney Abbey. AARP Vol 32 Pt 1, p21-34, plan.

(11) by Pauline Stafford 1985 The East Midlands in the early middle ages

Studies in the early history of Britain Page(s)183

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Remains of a Medieval building, possibly part of Bardney Abbey bakehouse. Pottery and an inhumation also recovered.

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Probable Medieval moat seen as an earthwork, alleged to be a grange belonging to Bardney Abbey.

HOSPITAL OF ST MARY MAGDALENE
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Hospital constructed circa 1115 after the Chapel of St Mary Magdalene had been granted to Bardney by Gilbert of Ghent. This grant was confirmed in 111...

MONUMENT NO. 1058729
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Post Medieval house and walled garden recorded from documentary sources.

MONUMENT NO. 1058738
BARDNEY

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Probable Medieval or Post Medieval rabbit warren seen as earthworks.

MONUMENT NO. 1301846
SKENDLEBY

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Benedictine Cell. When Robert de Waynfleet resigned as Abbot of Bardney 1n 1318, he was assigned the cells of Partney and Skendleby.

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