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CROWLAND ABBEY

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The pre-Conquest history of Crowland is obscure and confused by the falsifications of later abbots. It is listed as a minster by Stafford, but the evidence for this is uncertain. Benedictine monastery, founded in 714, destroyed in 870, rebuilt in 947 as an Abbey. It was dissolved in 1539. Parts of the later buildings were incorporated into the later parish church which now stands on the site. Buildings erected in 1061 were burnt down about 1091. In 1113 foundations of a new choir were laid, and although damaged by earthquake and fire, work continued to the west end which dates perhaps to 1160-70. In 1254-81 the west front was partly reconstructed. In the 15th century the nave was re-modelled, the north aisle greatly enlarged and the north-west tower built. When the monastery was dissolved in 1539 the eastern parts of the Church were destroyed, the nave with aisles being retained for parochial purposes. The nave roof fell in 1720, the main south wall was taken down in 1744, and the outer north aisle now serves as the parish church. Of the monastic buildings which stood south of the church, no trace remains.

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[TF 2416 1031] Remains of St Bartholomew, St Cuthlac and
St Mary's Abbey [G.T.] (Benedictine)
Church [T.U.] (1)

The origin and foundation of the monastery at Crowland are somewhat
obscure. Traditionally the house was founded by King Ethelbald in
714, taking its rise from the hermitage of St Guthlac, see TF 21 SE 5
for site of Anchor Church House.

It was destroyed by the Danes in 870 and rebuilt as a Benedictine
Abbey about 947. Buildings erected in 1061 were burnt down about
1091. In 1113 foundations of a new choir were laid, and although
damaged by earthquake and fire, work continued to the west end which
dates perhaps to 1160-70. In 1254-81 the west front was partly
reconstructed. In the 15th century the nave was re-modelled, the
north aisle greatly enlarged and the north-west tower built. When
the monastery was dissolved in 1539 the eastern parts of the Church
were destroyed, the nave with aisles being retained for parochial
purposes. The nave roof fell in 1720, the main south wall was taken
down in 1744, and the outer north aisle now serves as the parish
church. Of the monastic buildings which stood south of the church,
no trace remains. (2-4)

In normal use as Crowland Parish Church, see photographs. (5)

TF 24231030. Ruins and site of Crowland Abbey. Scheduled RSM no.
22613. (6)

A later 11th century limestone grave slab is mounted in the NW tower. It was probably found during restoration 1888-91. (7)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1958

( 2) Royal Archaeological Institute The Archaeological Journal

A W Clapham 89, 1932 Page(s)349-51

( 3) 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)105-18

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

1953 edition Page(s)63,471

( 5) Field Investigators Comments

F1 FRH 22.6.65

(6) Scheduled Monument Notification

English Heritage, Scheduling Amendment, Lincolnshire, 27-OCT-1994

(7) P Everson and D Stocker 1999 Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Stone Sculpture, Volume 5. Lincolnshire

Page(s)146

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