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Historic England Research Records

Polesworth Abbey

Hob Uid: 309881
Location :
Warwickshire
North Warwickshire
Polesworth
Grid Ref : SK2635002430
Summary : Benedictine nunnery founded in the 10th century, the nuns being expelled after the Norman conquest, refounded circa 1130, and dissolved 1539. St Editha's Church, the former abbey church has 11th century origins. Abbey gatehouse dating from the 14th century, with attached buildings dating from the late 15th to early 16th centuries.
More information : [SK 26350243] ABBEY LB (Remains of)
[SK 26300256] GUEST HOUSE [LB]
[SK 26330244] ST. EDITHA'S CHURCH [TU]. (1)

The Abbey of Polesworth, a house of Benedictine Nuns, dedicated
to St. Editha, the first Abbess.

According to legend, copied by Dugdale, it was founded by King
Egbert for St.Modwen and her convent. Another account by John of
Tynemouth ascribed the foundation to Ettenwolf, son of King
Edgar (1). Dates range from 827 (2) to 839/C 980(?) until
1066-70 when the nuns retired to Oldbury [AP 39 SW 11], they
returned c.1130, when the house was refounded (3).

The Abbey was surrendered in 1539 and the site passed to
Francis Goodere, whose son Sir Henry built a manor-house out
of, or on the site of, the Abbess's Lodgings. this house was
replaced about 1870 by the vicarage, using some of the original
material.

Little remains of the Abbey except the church, which is of
various periods from the 12th c; it is at present used as the
parish church. There is also a 75' length of the cloister wall
with a blocked 12th c. doorway which led into the south transept
of the church.

The two-storied Abbey gate-house is north of the church, it
dates from the 14th to 17th c. (2-5)

The remains are as described, the church being in normal use.

See G.P. F/53/159/2 for section of cloister wall
F/53/154/5+8 for Abbey gate-house. (6)

Adjacent to the gate-house, to the east, is a timber framed
house. See G.P. A0/67/2/2. (7)

Scheduled as 'Polesworth Abbey'. (8)

King Egbert is said to have founded a nunnery for his daughter
Edith at 'Trensall' in the Forest of Arden (Strenshall, see
SK 03 NE 16), from which the nuns moved to Polesworth. The
involvement of the Irish St Modwenna is doubtful, as she seems
to be of a much earlier period. (9)



Detailed description of church, wall east and south east of church
and gatehouse and attached buildings. (10-11)

Additional bibliography (12)
Sources :
Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : OS 25" 1956
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Source Number : 2
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Source details :
Page(s) : 62-5
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Source Number : 11
Source :
Source details : Making of the Warw Country House. Warw Local Hist Soc Occ Paper 4 1982 39
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Source Number : 3
Source :
Source details : St. Editha's Abbey, 1939 (H.C.Mitchell)
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Source Number : 4
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Source details :
Page(s) : 217
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Source Number : 5
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Source details :
Page(s) : 186-98
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Source Number : 6
Source :
Source details : F1 RBLW 02-DEC-53
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Source Number : 7
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Source details : F2 FDC 18-MAY-67
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Source Number : 8
Source :
Source details : DOE AM's in Eng 1973 216
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Source Number : 9
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Source details :
Page(s) : 263,480
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Source Number : 10
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Source details :
Page(s) : 372-3
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Monument Types:
Monument Period Name : Early Medieval
Display Date : C10 foundation and extant in 1066
Monument End Date : 1066
Monument Start Date : 900
Monument Type : Benedictine Nunnery, Abbey
Evidence : Documentary Evidence
Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date :
Monument End Date : 1539
Monument Start Date : 1130
Monument Type : Benedictine Nunnery, Abbey, Cloister, Wall
Evidence : Documentary Evidence, Structure
Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date :
Monument End Date :
Monument Start Date : 1539
Monument Type : Parish Church
Evidence : Extant Building
Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date :
Monument End Date : 1870
Monument Start Date : 1539
Monument Type : Manor House
Evidence : Documentary Evidence
Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date :
Monument End Date :
Monument Start Date : 1870
Monument Type : Vicarage
Evidence : Extant Building
Components and Objects:
Related Records from other datasets:
External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : WA 119a
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : WA 119b
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : WA 119c
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Warwickshire)
External Cross Reference Number : 203
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Warwickshire)
External Cross Reference Number : 203
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SK 20 SE 2
External Cross Reference Notes :
Related Warden Records :
Associated Monuments :
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Associated Monuments :
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Associated Monuments :
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Related Activities :
Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1953-12-02
End Date : 1953-12-02
Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1959-01-01
End Date : 1959-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1967-05-18
End Date : 1967-05-18
Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1976-01-01
End Date : 1976-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 1993-01-01
End Date : 1993-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1996-01-01
End Date : 1996-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1999-01-01
End Date : 1999-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY
Start Date : 2000-01-01
End Date : 2000-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2002-01-01
End Date : 2002-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 2005-01-01
End Date : 2005-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2006-01-01
End Date : 2006-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 2007-01-01
End Date : 2007-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 2009-01-01
End Date : 2009-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 2011-01-01
End Date : 2011-12-31