Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Torre Abbey
Hob Uid: 447608
Location : Torbay Non Civil Parish
Grid Ref : SX9082063670
Summary : The Premonstratensian abbey of St Saviour or Holy Trinity was founded by William Briwere (Brewer) in 1196, when it was colonized by an abbot, a canon of Welbeck and six other canons. Later there were at least 26 canons at Torre which became the richest and largest Premonstrtensian house in England, with an income in 1535 of £396. The abbey was dissolved in 1539. The church, now almost entirely destroyed, was partly excavated in 1911. It was cruciform with a square ended aisleless presbytery of three bays, short transepts each with two eastern chapels, and a nave of six bays. The north aisle was an early addition; the rest of the church was of one date. After the dissolution, a residence was built on the remains of the South and West ranges, (see SX 96SW157 for Mediaeval and later components).
More information : (SX 90736381) Torre Abbey (NR) (rems of) (SX90726378) Gateway (NR) (SX 90726375) Barn (NR). (1) The abbey of St. Saviour or Holy Trinity was founded by William Briwere (Brewer) in 1196, when it was colonized by an abbot, a canon of Welbeck and six other canons. Later there were at least 26 canons at Torre which became the richest and largest Premonstrtensian house in England, with an income in 1535 of £396. The abbey was dissolved in 1539. The church, now almost entirely destroyed, was partly excavated in 1911. It was cruciform with a square ended aisleless presbytery of three bays, short transepts each with two eastern chapels, and a nave of six bays. The north aisle was an early addition; the rest of the church was of one date. (2-3) The abbey was acquired after the dissolution by the Ridgeway family when the western part of the complex with the gatehouse, was remodelled as a residence-the rest having fallen into ruin. At the western corner of the existing building is the Abbey Gatehouse dating from circa 1320. The west wing much altered outside, originally the Guest Hall and Lavatorium leads to the Abbot's tower. The present main house is on the site of the Refectory. The former Chapter House entrance is the only substantial fragment of the original church complex to the north. The interior of the existing building retains some early features: beneath the west wing the C13 undercroft survives with groined vaults and above this range is a waggon roof with moulded beams and bosses, probably C16. (See SX96SW157 for details of claustral buildings and later house.) Grade I. (4) There are 2 gunports of uncertain date in the Mohun Gatehouse, although extant at some time between 1360-1539. (5)

Sources :

Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : 0rdnance Survey 1:10 000 1978
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Source Number : 3
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Vol(s) : 114, 1957

Source Number : 4
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Source details : List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest Torbay 03/05/1994
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Source Number : 5
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Source details : English Heritage Schedule Entry 31/01/1997
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Source Number : 6
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Founded in 1196 and dessolved in 1539
Monument End Date : 1539
Monument Start Date : 1196
Monument Type : Premonstratensian Monastery, Abbey, Church, Lavatorium, Well, Hearth, Culvert, Guest House, Gatehouse
Evidence : Extant Building, Structure, Sub Surface Deposit, Cropmark, Demolished Building

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Early C14
Monument End Date : 1332
Monument Start Date : 1300
Monument Type : Stable, Guest House
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit, Cropmark

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Extant 1360-1539
Monument End Date : 1539
Monument Start Date : 1360
Monument Type : Loopholed Wall
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Enlarged C15-C16
Monument End Date : 1539
Monument Start Date : 1400
Monument Type : Abbey, Church
Evidence : Demolished Building

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Early C15
Monument End Date : 1432
Monument Start Date : 1400
Monument Type : Tomb
Evidence : Structure

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Listed Building List Entry Legacy Uid
External Cross Reference Number : 390820
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : DV 171
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 24840
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SX 96 SW 10
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1912-01-01
End Date : 1915-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1984-01-01
End Date : 1984-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1986-01-01
End Date : 1986-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1987-01-01
End Date : 1988-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1995-01-01
End Date : 1995-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : DESK BASED ASSESSMENT
Start Date : 1997-01-01
End Date : 1997-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1998-01-01
End Date : 1998-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 2003-01-01
End Date : 2003-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 2005-01-01
End Date : 2005-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2014-01-01
End Date : 2014-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY
Start Date : 2015-01-01
End Date : 2015-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2016-01-01
End Date : 2016-12-31

Historic England Research Records

Torre Abbey