| Summary : The ruins, earthworks and buried remains of the Cistercian nunnery of Pinley which was founded in the early 12th century and dissolved in 1536. The conventual precinct originally occupied a roughly rectangular area measuring 200 metres by 160 metres and is now partly occupied by the buildings of Pinley Abbey Farm. The precinct boundary can be traced as earthworks along much of its length. It is represented by a linear earthwork to the south west, and on its south eastern and north eastern sides by a waterfilled linear pond. The pond is thought to be of post-Dissolution date, but is believed to be sited along the original line of the precinct boundary in this part of the site. Near the centre of the precinct is a slightly raised area on which the present dwellings and outbuildings stand. Finds of sculptural and architectural fragments, including grave covers and ornamental bosses, indicate that this area is the site of the priory church and other conventual buildings. Adjoining the south east angle of Pinley Abbey Farmhouse is a 6 metre length of walling which is thought to represent the remains of a monastic building. The walling has been incorporated within Pinley Abbey Farmhouse, a Grade II* Listed Building, which dates from the mid 15th century. A second fragment of in situ monastic walling survives to the east of the farmhouse and now forms the western extension to the north wall of a workshop and strorage building, Listed Grade II*. To the north west of the farmhouse is a cottage, probably once the priory guest house. This building, which is Listed Grade II*, dates from the 14th century. In the southern part of the precinct are a pair of fishponds which are now dry. To the north west of the fishponds is the site of a watermill which survives as a levelled platform which a large hollow to the east; the former mill pond. Beyond the south eastern precinct boundary are extensive remains of ridge and furrow cultivation. Scheduled. |
More information : [SP 21356576] Pinley Abbey [T.I.]
[Centred at SP 21446575] MOAT [G.T.]
[Name centred SP 21416575] Pinley Priory [G.T.]
(Remains of) (1)
Pinley. Priory of Cistercian Nuns, founded temp. Henry I,
[1100-1135] dissolved 1536. (2)
Plan of Pinley Priory AO/61/40/1 (3)
Pinley Abbey including remains of Priory.
The nucleus of the house is of c.1500 of close-set timber framing,
with a porch wing on the south.
Remains of Priory Church? now partly stables.
The remains .... comprise the west and north walls of the nave,
and a portion of the chancel, partly converted into a stable in
the late 17th c. or early 18th c.
All is of ashlar, probably rebuilt in the late 15th c.
The west wall has a blocked late 15th c. doorway.
South of the chancel, and divided from it by the 17thc. stable
wall, is a chapel pierced by several doorways, that in the west
end being a reset early 16th c. entrance.
Grade II.* (4)
The house, and the remains of the priory church are as
described.
See GP's AO/61/32/8 Priory Church from N. and GP AO/61/107/1 Pinley
Abbey from S.W.
The moat does not appear to have even encircled the site of the
priory. The ground slopes appreciably from NW to SE and only the
Eastern part could ever have held water.
Please see annotated 25" re-survey. (5)
II Pinley Abbey including remains of Priory.
*The remains of the Cistercian priory founded temp. Henry I consist
only of a farmhouse called Pinley Abbey, and portions of the
church.
The nucleus of the house is of c.1500 of close-set timber framing,
with a porch wing on the south. The porch is on stone foundations,
and has a gabled upper storey projecting on all three faces,
the entrances being square-headed. Adjoining this on the east is
a penthouse of late 18C or early 19C brick. The rear of the house
has 2 16C gabled wings, now filled in with a brick penthouse.
There are 2 16C stone chimney-stacks on this north face, one
overlapped by a gabled wing. The east end of the house has a
similar projecting stack, and adjoining it is a late 16C porch
wing with a jettied upper storey projecting on 3 faces. The
building is internally divided into three rooms by partitions
of original timber framing, the upper partitions having braced tie
beams and queen posts, and the roof having four-centred arched
wind-braces. In the eastern partition is a blocked original
doorway with chamfered posts and four centred head.
The principal staircase in the north-west wing is plain and has
been reset. Fenestration is generally modern.
II Remains of Priory Church. ? now partly stables.
*The remains of the church adjoin the S.E. angle of the house.
They comprise the west and north walls of the nave, and a portion
of the chancel, partly converted into a stable in the late 17C or
early 18C. All is of ashlar, probably rebuilt in the late 15C,
and most of the wall has a double -chamfered stringcourse. The west
wall has a blocked late 15C doorway, with moulded jambs and
four-centred arch, having a label with figure-head stops. South
of the chancel, and divided from it by the 17C stable wall, is a
chapel pierced by several doorways, that in the west end being
a reset early 16C entrance with moulded jambs and a four-centred
arch in a square head, the spandrels carved with rosettes and
foliage.
II Cottage to N. of House.
*North of the house, and set obliquely to it, is a cottage of timber
framing with a central chimney-stack of stone. (6)
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