More information : (SX 25055218) Chapel (NR) (Site of) (NAT)
(SX 25195227) Monk's House (NR) (Remains of) (NAT) (1)
Lamanna or Lemaine, the site of a Celtic , suggested 6th
century, monastery which was granted to Glastonbury as a Benedictine
cell before 1114. A licence to dispose of it was granted in 1239
and by 1329 it had become a chantry of the Dawnay family. It was
dissolved in 1549.
St Michael's Chapel on Looe Island (see SX 25 SE 6, named 'St
George's Chapel' on OS 1:10,000 1976) belonged to the Celtic
monastery. (2-3)
The remains of the Medieval chapel and Monk's House were
excavated by Andrew during 1935 and 1936. The chapel foundations
are now (1978) exposed and in poor condition. The earliest phase,
probably pre-Norman, was a 25ft by 15 ft nave having north and
south doors. The dating of the building is not certain as pottery
recovered is from the 12th to 15th centuries with a few sherds
which may be earlier; pre-Reformation painted wall plaster and ridge
tiles were also found. The foundations and floor were cut from the
living rock, with walls of slate slabs set in clayey earth which
had subsequent treatment with mortar and plaster.
In the 12th or 13th century a 13ft long chancel was added, at the
south-east angle of which was buried at foundation level a human
skull set upright facing east. A porch was added to the south door
about the 15th century. On the chapel's north side the remains of
other, undated, buildings lie beneath the modern retaining wall
of the farm road. The chapel ruins were measured by Bond in 1815,
he found them to be about 47 ft long by 24 ft wide.
The eastern gable of the Monk's House is incorporated in a wall at
SX 25205227(6) and excavations showed the building to have been
55 ft by 25 ft, being later partitioned into three rooms. (4-8)
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