| Print | More

PRIORY OF ST MARGARET OF ANTIOCH

ALTERNATIVE NAME:

ISLEHAM PRIORY

ABOUT THIS MONUMENT

+ / -

EH Visitor Information
Related Monuments
Related Text
Investigation History

More Pictures
Modern Map
Old Map
Aerial Photograph

Monument Types
Sources
Thesaurus
Description

DESCRIPTION

+ / -

The built and earthwork remains of the Priory of St Margaret of Antioch, a Benedictine Alien Priory founded at Isleham circa 1100. The church, which is the only extant building, is an excellent example of a small Romanesque church of circa 1100. It was never extended, little altered, and shows extensive herringbone coursing of the masonry. The nave, of two bays, is divided from the choir by a fine round-headed arch on attached columns, whilst the choir was divided from the sanctuary by a similar arch on rectangular responds. The sanctuary is apsidal ended. There were minor alterations in the 13th century, and towards the end of the Middle Ages the west wall was buttressed. Other alterations, including the great doors in the south wall, belong to the period when the church was used as a barn. The vault and arch of the sanctuary were demolished early 19th century.

The priory is not considered to have developed sufficiently to have required a full claustral range, and the chapel is thought to have been the most southerly building in the complex, as well as the only building in stone. The area immediately to the north of the chapel is enclosed by a clunch and brick wall, which post dates the priory and relates to the later reuse of the chapel. It is, however, thought to reflect an earlier boundary enclosing the conventual buildings which would have been essentially domestic in character. The enclosure may also contain the monks' cemetery.

In 1254 the monks moved to the priory at Linton and in 1414 the lands were seized by the King and granted to the Master and Fellows of Pembroke College, Cambridge. In 1944 the college placed it in the guardianship of the Ministry of Works.

PICTURES

+ / -

DETAIL

+ / -

MORE INFORMATION & SOURCES

+ / -

(TL 64207430) Priory (remains of) (NR) (1)
(TL 642744) Stews (remains of) (NR) (2)

St Margaret's (Benedictine Alien Priory) was founded in the 11th cent. In 1254 the monks moved to the sister cell at Linton and the small conventual church, near the parish church,
was used in 1914 as a barn. (3-5)

The Church of St Margaret of Antioch was given to the Abbey of St Jacut-de-la-Mer in Brittany between 1086-1163, by local Landowners. The lands were seized by the King in 1414 and granted to the Master and Fellows of Pembroke College,
Cambridge. In 1944 the college placed it in the guardianship of the Ministry of Works.

The building remains an excellent example of a small Romanesque church of c 1100, never extended, little altered and showing extensive herringbone coursing of the masonry. The nave, of two bays, is divided from the choir by a fine round-headed arch on attached columns, whilst the choir was divided from the sanctuary by a similar arch on rectangular responds. The sanctuary is apsidal ended. There were minor alterations in the 13th c, and towards the end of the Middle Ages the west wall was buttressed. Other alterations, including the great doors in the S wall, belong to the period when the church was used as a barn. The vault and arch of the sanctuary were demolished early 19th c. (Detailed plans shown - Auth 4). (6)

(TL 64247434) The Church of St Margaret of Antioch is as described and forms the only structural remains of the Priory. It is still under the guardianship of the DOE and is open to the public. There are no internal fixtures, but the parish vicar holds 2 public services a year, in July, within the church. See ground photographs.

Centred TL 642744. In rough pasture on the N side of the church are associated earthworks with the remains of fish-ponds. The principal feature is a dry ditch, from 7-16 metres wide and c 1.3m deep, extending N-S, which evidently supplied water from the N in a channel less than 2.0m wide. The channel however is at a lower level than four definite adjacent fishponds, and there is no trace of water-connections between the channel and ponds or between the ponds themselves, which are dry and differing in shape and depth, (0.4 to 1.5 metres). An irregular shaped low bank at TL 64107455 has two possible sluice gaps, and there is the suggestion of further ponds on the N and S sides of the bank evidenced by growth pattern and vegetation 'stains', no depressions or coherent shapes being visible.

No evidence of buried structural remains was found in this field.
Published survey (25") (Church) revised. Earthworks re-surveyed at 1:2500 on MSD. (7)

Priory Church of St Margaret of Antioch (formerly listed as Priory [now barn]. A small Benedictine priory of c1080-90 built by count John and given to the abbey of St Jacut in Brittany. Later it was used as a barn and now it is in the care of the Department of The Environment. Grade I (see list for details) (8)

Additional reference (9)

Isleham Priory scheduled 28, Earthworks 61 (10)

Additional information. (11)

The priory is not considered to have developed sufficiently to have required a full claustral range, and the chapel is thought to have been the most southerly building in the complex, as well as the only building in stone. The area immediately to the north of the chapel is enclosed by a clunch and brick wall, attached to the north west corner of the nave and the south east side of the apse. The wall, which has recently been renovated, post-dates the priory and relates to the later reuse of the chapel. It is, however, thought to reflect an earlier boundary enclosing the conventual buildings which, given the historical evidence for the limited scale of the priory, would have been essentially domestic in character. As well as the buried remains of these structures, the enclosure may also contain the monks' cemetery, situated on the north east side of the sanctuary. The pasture to the north of the walled enclosure contains the remains of agricultural buildings and other features related to the economy of the priory. (12)

This is an additional source of information. (13)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1959

( 2) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 25" 1924

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

Page(s)84, 89

( 4) by Nikolaus Pevsner 1954 Cambridgeshire

The Buildings of England Page(s)336

( 5) List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest

Newmarket RD June 1949 Page(s)9

( 6) General reference

Extract Church History Board (no authority) with plans

( 7) Field Investigators Comments

F1 JRL 19-JUL-76

(8) List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest

East Cambridgeshire 1983 42 Page(s)6

(9) by Nikolaus Pevsner 1970 Cambridgeshire

The Buildings of England Page(s)416

(10) English Heritage 1987 County list of Scheduled Ancient Monuments : December 1987

Cambridgeshire Page(s)5

(11) English Heritage 1998 The English Heritage visitors' handbook 1998-99

Page(s)115

(12) Scheduled Monument Notification

East Cambridgeshire District, 11-MAR-1996

(13) 2004 Heritage Unlocked: Guide to free sites in the East of England

Page(s)16

MONUMENT TYPES

+ / -

COMMENTS

+ / -

Please help us keep our information accurate let us know if you see any errors on this page.

Further information about monuments may be obtained by contacting NMR Enquiry and Research Services , through the English Heritage website.

EH Archives
EH Prints
English Heritage
Heritage Explorer
Heritage Gateway
Images of England
National Heritage List for England
English Heritage Archive
ViewFinder