More information : (SJ 837242) Ranton Abbey (NR) (Remains of) (NAT)
(SJ 83912429) Moat (NR) (1)
Ranton Abbey, Augustinian Priory of St Mary, founded between 1135 and 1166 as cell of Haughmond. Independent 1246-7 to c1536. (2)
A hospital of St Anne in the precincts in the 13th century. The original church of the priory survived at least until 1731 (a), but only the later Perpendicular tower now remains. The hospital had disappeared by 1536. (3)
Part of the priory moat remains, the largest part being filled in "some years ago". (4)
(SJ 83812427) Of the priory only the church tower remains see photograph. Extending E from the SE corner of the tower is a short length of walling containing a doorway, probably the original (12th century) processional door. 'Ranton Abbey', an 18th century mansion, is now ruinous but some outbuildings are under repair. The site of the hospital was not established. The moat is fragmentary, portions of N and E arms only, now dry. (5)
Tower at Ranton Abbey, Grade 2*. (6)
No change to previous information. Ruins of 18th century mansions of no architectural interest. The priory moat remains comprise the NE corner together with 80.0m of the N arm and 12.0m of the E arm. The moat averages 11.0m in width and 2.3m in depth. It is dry and overgrown.
Published 1:2500 survey correct. (7)
(SJ 837242) Remains of (NAT) Ranton Priory (NR)(Augustinian founded 1149) (NAT)
(SJ 83912429) Moat (NR) (8)
Tower at Ranton Abbey
II*
A priory of Austin Canons was founded here circa 1160 by Robert Fitzneel. Virtually the only surviving remains is a fine West tower of the church, a notable example of late mediaeval design and execution. Ashlar faced with embattled parapet and low pyramidal cap. Below the parapet is a band of ornament. The large West window and doorway below have an attractive hood mould. The newel stair is contrived in the South-east angle. Large blocked arch on East. A portion of walling on the line of the South side of nave has a round-headed Norman doorway with a continuous roll moulding. The monastic buildings were on the South but there are no traces above ground. Footings of the Eastern portion of the church have been found but have not been explored. The adjoining late Georgian mansion is a roofless ruin so covered with ivy that it is impossible to inspect the details. It is not included in the list.
Auth. 9 is the full text of auth. 6. (9)
Ranton Abbey. Additional references. (10-11)
Moated site. (12)
Lidar images of the southern half of the abbey site show the southern side and SE corner (at SJ 8394 2406) of the abbey moat visible as an earthwork ditch and bank. (14)
Extensive earthworks associated with Ranton Priory consisting of a moat, water channels, field boundaries, boundary banks, extractive pit and potential precinct boundary are visible as earthworks on air photographs and 1 metre resolution data, centred at SJ 8404 2450. The incomplete moat enclosure is centred at SJ 8387 2431, of which only the north-east corner and part of the northern and eastern arms could be discerned from the available photography. Additional elements of the moat may be extant in an area of woodland to the west. To the north and west of the moat, are numerous field boundaries, a boundary bank, and water channels provide evidence for extensive water management. The largest of the water channels is visible for approximately 770 metres and extends roughly east to west across the site. A further two smaller water channels run parallel. Two extraction pits could also be associated with the Priory. A substantial ditch lined bank located to the south of the moat could be the southern precinct boundary. The earthworks were mapped as part of the Staffordshire National Mapping Programme project and are extant on the latest 2010 vertical photography. (15-7) |