Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Poulton Abbey And Chapel
Hob Uid: 68788
Location : Wrecsam - Wrexham, Cheshire West and Chester Poulton and Pulford, Rossett Community
Grid Ref : SJ4036058360
Summary : Cistercian Abbey founded circa 1153. It transferred to Dieulacres in 1214, only a grange and the chapel remaining. The chapel was still extant in 1544 when it was granted to Sir George Cotton by the King, although the rest of the buildings had long since fallen into decay. In 1672 it was reported as ruinous and by 1718 it had been demolished.
More information : [SJ 40365836] Site of CHAPEL [G.T.] (1) "Poulton, Cheshire. Cistercian Abbey, founded 1153, dissolved 1214 (a) Janauschek (b) favours 1158, the date noted on the reverse of the foundation charter. Perhaps all that can be said with certainty is that Poulton was founded after 1153 and before 1158 [and was moved to] Dieulacres after 1199(c) [See SJ 95 NE 1] (2) "The king granted to Sir George Cotton...the...chapel of Pulton by Patent dated Dec. 20 1544..." 'The remains of the monastery have been long totally destroyed' (3) 'After the Transfer of the abbey to Dieulacres, a grange and chapel were maintained at Poulton by the monks... Poulton chapel was in decay 1672 and there are now no visible remains above ground of the Abbey or any of its subsidiary buildings...About 18 years ago...Mr. Minshull the farmer said that two years previously he had ploughed a field between the site and the Dee and had uncovered a large number of bones and a few stones but nothing more...Mr R.G. Williams...made considerable excavations on the site of the chapel...about 1892...Mr. Williams...pointed out places where he had found ...encaustic tiles which, together with notes, he had presented to Canon Rupert Morris' Poulton Chapel is mentioned in a will of 1519, and Priers Meadow is named in a grant of land in 1569. "Chaplain of Poulton Chapel is mentioned"(a) temp. Henry VIII (4) Stones scattered along the hedges to the S and E are probably from the chapel. There is no other trace. (5) Survey and sample excavation in 1995 revealed the footings of a substantial masonry structure, undoubtedly the chapel. Air photographs indicate a second masonry struscture, aligned North-South, to the North of the chapel. Inhumations, presumably associated with the Abbey, were also discovered. (6) The abbey could not have been founded later than 1153 because Ranulf de Gernon, Earl of Chester, confimed its foundation (initially agreed by Robert Pincerna, his leigeman) and made various gifts of land and services to the abbey. De Gernon died in December 1153. (7)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : OS 6" 1913
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Source Number : 2
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Source details : 1953 edition
Page(s) : 108,113
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Source Number : 7
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Source details : Email correspondence 28-SEP-2015
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Source Number : 2a
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Source details : "Monasticon Anglicanum" Vol. 5 p. 627 (W. Dugdale)
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Source Number : 2b
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Source details : "Originum Cisterciensium" 1877 (L. Janauschek)
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Source Number : 2c
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Source details : Staffordshire Historical Collections
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Source Number : 3
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Source details : "History of Cheshire" Vol. 2 1881 pp 861-2 (G.Ormerod) (Cont.)
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Source Number : 4
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Source details : "The Cheshire Sheaf" 3rd ser. Vol. 35 1940 pp 53 (J.H.E.B.)
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Source Number : 4a
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Source details : Patent Rolls 35-38 Henry VIII
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Source Number : 5
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Source details : F1 TPW 18-NOV-64
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Source Number : 6
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Vol(s) : no.9

Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Mesolithic
Display Date : Mesolithic
Monument End Date : -4000
Monument Start Date : -10000
Monument Type : Findspot
Evidence : Stratified Find

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Founded 1153-8
Monument End Date : 1158
Monument Start Date : 1153
Monument Type : Cistercian Monastery, Abbey
Evidence : Documentary Evidence

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Chapel and grange remain
Monument End Date : 1538
Monument Start Date : 1214
Monument Type : Cistercian Grange, Chapel, Cemetery
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Monastery moved
Monument End Date : 1214
Monument Start Date : 1214
Monument Type : Cistercian Monastery, Abbey
Evidence : Documentary Evidence

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Only chapel extant
Monument End Date : 1544
Monument Start Date : 1544
Monument Type : Chapel
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Demolished before 1718
Monument End Date : 1718
Monument Start Date : 1718
Monument Type : Chapel
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit

Components and Objects:

Period : Mesolithic
Component Monument Type : Findspot
Object Type : LITHIC IMPLEMENT
Object Material :

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SJ 45 NW 4
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1892-01-01
End Date : 1892-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1964-11-18
End Date : 1964-11-18

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 2006-01-01
End Date : 2006-12-31

Historic England Research Records

Poulton Abbey And Chapel