| Summary : Premonstratensian abbey of Sulby, represented by buried and earthwork remains. Also included are the earthwork and buried remains of the enclosures, fishponds, watermill and warren associated with the abbey. The abbey was founded in 1155 by William de Wideville, and is sometimes referred to as Welford Abbey. (Knowles and Hadcock state that it was not originally founded in Welford; VCH misread the document quoted by them). The abbey may have been built on the site of an earlier settlement, recorded in the Domesday Book, which may already have been abandoned by the 12th century. The abbey was dissolved in 1538. The abbey is approached by a broad track, on either side of which are at least five large enclosures. These are believed to be the remains of the stock pens and animal enclosures of the abbey. The main building complex of the abbey is located at the southern end of the track and includes an area of low earthworks to the south east of Sulby Abbey Farm. This area is believed to include the buried remains of the abbey church and claustral range. To the south of Sulby Abbey Farm is a complex of small fishponds and associated water management features. A large earthen platform, measuring up to 25 metres square, is believed to be the location of a watermill. The rabbit warren includes a pillow mound measuring up to 20 metres long and 4 metres wide. Scheduled. Dependency: Kayland priory cell. |
More information : [SP 65778007] Sulby Abbey [GT] (site of) (1)
(a) Sulby, or Welford Abbey, Premonstratensian, found 1155,
dissolved 1538, when the deed of surrender was signed by the
abbot and eleven canons (quoted Colvin; V.C.H. and Mon)
(b) The exact site of Sulby Abbey is said to have been south east
of the abbey farm [SP 6577 8009] but the ground affords no defnite evidence of this. A small modern building nearby contains a few
architectural fragments and a fine coffin-lid. (2-3)
The present farm-buildings are of 18/19th C. date. mainly of
brick but with some stonework containing re-used fragments of
worked and moulded stone. A small out-building at SP 6578 8011
dated 1891 is built of reused stone with carved ornament,
including heads, and contains a large number of finds made in the
imemdiate vicinity of the farm (a). They include a stone coffin, a
coffin lid with floreated cross and pastoral staff fragments of
window tracery, columns and decorative detail, balls of lead and
fragments of ironwork. oMost of these finds were made before 1891
but an 'arch' was found immediately north of the farm in this
century (e).
In the stream valley south of farm, is a large pond-bay, centred
at SP 6574 7996, with small fish-ponds on its west side and traces
of a large pond, now dry, to the east. An embanked 'road' leads
from the modern road to the farm accompanied by the much smaller
approach-track. In the rough pasture fields, north and sou4h of the
farm, are a number of banks and ditches forming enclosures of
presumably agriculture origin. There has been extensive quarrying
for gravel to the east of the farm.
It seems most probable that the farmhouse and buildigns occupy
the actual site of the monastic buildings. Surveyed 22-30.8.60. (4)
Earthworks are not clearly visible on A.P.s. (5)
No change. (6)
RCHM Records that Sulby Abbey SP 657800 was originally founded in
the adjacebt parish of Welford in 1155 and moved to the Sulby site
soon afterwards, following the grant of a manor: this may have been
a manor recorded as waste in Domesday held by Geoffrey de Wirce.
Finds of stonework from the 18th century onwards and 14th or 15th
century floor tiles, including one possibly depicting the Wyke
family crest, locate the site of the Abbey around the 18th-19th
century farmhouse Earthworks include a boundary bank which may
represent the monastic precint boundary.
[RCHM plan and photography]. (7)
(SP 658800). The site was claimed to be in good condition in 1980 with a rampart overlying early ridge and furrow (probably dated c.1155). On the edge of the site are village type earthworks which may be the location of Little Sulby. (8) |