More information : [TQ 04356712] THE ABBEY [GT] (Site of)
[TQ 04416707] CHAPEL [GT] (Remains of)
[TQ 04296722 and name at TQ 04326709] Stone Coffin [TI] and
STONE COFFIN [GT]
[At several places] OLD FISH POND(S) [GT] and MOAT [GT] (1)
Chertsey Abbey was a Benedictine foundation, dedicated to St Peter. It is first mentioned in AD 666 but this community was destroyed by the Danes. It was refounded some years before 964; the abbey was rebuilt in 1110, and in 1537 the monks were transferred to Bisham and finally dispersed after a year. The Church had been only slightly altered since 1110; fish-ponds were dug in 1308. After 1537 the buildings were demolished forbuilding material (Oatlands was found to have foundations built almost entirely of Abbey debris). A house built on the site in the 17th c. was demolished in 1810. (2-5)
In 1853, stone-digging on the site led to the discovery of a
pavement of encaustic tiles for which the Abbey is now famous.
Excavations were made by the Surrey Arch. Soc., in 1855, when
W.W.Pocock and - Grumbridge cleared the south side of the
church, finding several burials in stone coffins. Further
excavation in 1861 by Dr. Shurlock and S.Angell established
the part-plan of the Norman church and a south chapel (wrongly
identified as the chapter-house). Coffins, architectural
debris and walling were left exposed and incorporated into
ornamental gardening.
In 1922 a kiln for manufacturing the encaustic tiles was
excavated by Dr. Eric Gardner - TQ 06 NW 19 and from 1928-33
excavations by the Rev. A.T.Gardner and others revealed a
number of domestic ovens or roofing-tile kilns - TQ 06 NW 20.
The Abbey site was excavated in late 1954 by Gp/Capt. Knocker,
for the M.P.B.&W., in advance of building development. He
confirmed the 1861 plan of the church and established that the
cloisters were on the north of the church (previous plans show a
conjectural conventional positioning to the south). The site is
a scheduled ancient monument. (6)
Considerable quantities of human bones were found at approx.
TQ 04436715, in c.1956, in laying sewers (a). For condition
reports and comment on other details see the 25" AM survey.
GPs : AO/61/72/2 Doorway from the east; (7)
GPs : AO/61/72/3 Detail of west end of south wall of barn.
No further work has been done on this site and the survey of
16.10.61 still applies:for details of existing remains etc.now,
see map diagram. (8)
TQ 041671. Complex of broad ditches: probably not classifiable as moated site. (9)
TQ 041671. Additional reference to authority 9. (10) |