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Historic England Research Records

Bisham Abbey

Hob Uid: 248327
Location :
Windsor and Maidenhead
Bisham
Grid Ref : SU8475084930
Summary : Preceptory of the Knights Templars founded during the 13th century. An Austin Priory dedicated to Jesus Christ and St Mary was founded on the site, to the North of the preceptory, in 1337. This was refounded as a Benedictine Abbey in 1537, but surrendered in 1538. A moated house incorporating the preceptory was constructed in 1557-60. Alterations took place in the 17th century, a restoration took place in 1859. The building was also altered during the mid 20th century. It is now used as the Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre. Most of the other abbey and priory buildings have been demolished.
More information : [SU 84698502] Bisham Abbey [L.B.]. (1)

Bisham Abbey, a mansion & tower surrounded by a moat, was built
1557-60, incorporating the remains of a Preceptory of the Knights
Templars. In 1337 an Austin Priory was founded here, dedicated to
Jesus Christ & St Mary,surrendered & refounded as a Benedictine
Abbey in 1537 & again surrendered in 1538. The Priory & Abbey
buildings were independent of the Preceptory & have been
demolished.[See plan AO/62/165/6]. There are a late Md. barn & a circular dovecote at Bisham. (2-4)

The 16th. C. 'Bisham Abbey'is in good condition, & now a National
Recreation Centre of the Central Council of Physical Recreation.
See postcards 26821 & 26822 for NW & SW oblique air views & BHM 5 & 12
for SW elevation & interior of the hall respectively.
The dovecot is at SU 84628496. The barn at SU 84828473 has been much
altered & added to in modern times,
Much of the moat has vertical sides which average 1.2m high above the
water level. An inner bank, up to 0.3m high ,survives in places.
There are no visible remains of the conventual buildings.
Moat revised 1/2500. (5)

Moat now filled in. (6)

Site is scheduled Berks 148, as shown on attached plan including
the dovecote. The main buiding is listed grade I and the rest grade
II. (7)

SU 848848. Bisham Abbey. Scheduled no 148. (8)

Bisham Abbey. Preceptory of the Knights Templar, now the Bisham
Abbey National Sports Centre. C13, altered and extended C14, and
largely rebuilt in C16, altered and extended C17. Minor
restorations in 1859, altered mid C20. Grade I. (See list for
details). (9)

Additional bibliography. (10-14)
Sources :
Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : OS 6" (Prov.) 1960.
Page(s) :
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Vol(s) :
Source Number : 2
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) : 82-84
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 11
Source :
Source details : Harvey J. 1981. Medieval Gardens, 54
Page(s) :
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Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 12
Source :
Source details : Hewett CA. 1980. English Historic Carpentry, 156.
Page(s) :
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Vol(s) :
Source Number : 13
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) : 208-9
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 14
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) : 83
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 72, 1983-85
Source Number : 15
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) : 59,148,293
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 3
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) : 139-49
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 4
Source :
Source details : (ET Long)
Page(s) : 32
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 45, 1941
Source Number : 5
Source :
Source details : F1 NVQ 11-JAN-63
Page(s) :
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Vol(s) :
Source Number : 6
Source :
Source details : S.D.Lacey 26.1.73
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Source Number : 7
Source :
Source details : DOE (IAM) Record Form, 1975
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 8
Source :
Source details : DOE (IAM) SAMS Berkshire, 1988, 10
Page(s) :
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Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 9
Source :
Source details : District of Windsor and Maidenhead, 1987
Page(s) : 15
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 10
Source :
Source details : (S M Youngs, J Clark and T Barry)
Page(s) : 1167
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 31, 1987
Monument Types:
Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Founded in C13; Dissolved 1308-12
Monument End Date : 1312
Monument Start Date : 1200
Monument Type : Templars Preceptory
Evidence : Extant Building
Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Founded 1337, dissolved 1537
Monument End Date : 1537
Monument Start Date : 1337
Monument Type : Augustinian Monastery, Priory
Evidence : Demolished Building
Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Refounded in 1537, surrendered 1538
Monument End Date : 1538
Monument Start Date : 1537
Monument Type : Benedictine Monastery, Abbey
Evidence : Demolished Building
Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Constructed 1557-60
Monument End Date : 1560
Monument Start Date : 1557
Monument Type : House, Moat
Evidence : Extant Building, Sub Surface Deposit
Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Altered and extended C17
Monument End Date : 1699
Monument Start Date : 1600
Monument Type : House, Moat
Evidence : Extant Building
Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Restored in 1859
Monument End Date : 1859
Monument Start Date : 1859
Monument Type : House, Moat
Evidence : Extant Building
Monument Period Name : 20th Century
Display Date : Mid C20 alterations
Monument End Date : 1966
Monument Start Date : 1933
Monument Type : House, Moat, Sports Centre
Evidence : Extant Building
Components and Objects:
Related Records from other datasets:
External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : BK 148
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SU 88 NW 1
External Cross Reference Notes :
Related Warden Records :
Related Activities :
Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1963-01-11
End Date : 1963-01-11
Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1990-01-01
End Date : 1999-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1992-01-01
End Date : 1992-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1993-01-01
End Date : 1993-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1995-01-01
End Date : 1995-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1996-01-01
End Date : 1996-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1997-01-01
End Date : 1997-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 2001-01-01
End Date : 2002-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : DESK BASED ASSESSMENT
Start Date : 2001-01-01
End Date : 2001-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 2001-01-01
End Date : 2001-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2008-01-01
End Date : 2008-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2009-01-01
End Date : 2009-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2009-01-01
End Date : 2009-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY
Start Date : 2010-01-01
End Date : 2010-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2010-01-01
End Date : 2010-12-31