Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Lavendon Abbey
Hob Uid: 346952
Location : Milton Keynes Lavendon, Warrington
Grid Ref : SP9026753569
Summary : Premonstatensian abbey, founded 1155-8, and dissolved in 1536. The only certain remains are those of a moat. Earthworks are visible as cropmarks, but they, and a fishpond, may be associated with the later Lavendon Grange (Monument Number 346955). Dependency: Blackwose Priory.
More information : (SP 903 534) Site of (NAT) Lavendon Abbey (NR) (Premonstratensian founded AD 1155-8) (NAT). (1) Premonstratensian Abbey; founded AD 1155-8 and dissolved AD 1536. (2) The only Remains are the W arm and part of the S arm of a moat with an inner rampart and a counterscarp bank; W of the moat are traces of foundations. (3) There is no local information or ground confirmation concerning the site of the Abbey (but see SP 95 SW 15). The earthworks shown on the OS 25" centred at SP 903 534 are under pasture and form no coherent pattern. It appears that some of the works were formed by quarrying. The 'L' shaped water feature to the E, averaging c8.0m wide with large spoil banks both sides, has neither the shape nor appearance of a moat, and appears a landscaped water course. There is possibly an association between these earthworks and the Md occupation in the field centred SP 9071 5332 (see SP 95 SW 13). Published survey (25") correct. (4) A rapid examination of air photography (6) shows earthworks of ditches, mounds and enclosures extending from the L-shaped water feature to the fishponds northeast of Lavendon Grange (SP 95 SW 15). This may indicate that the fishponds relate to the abbey; alternatively, it may mean that the water-filled feature relates to Lavendon Grange and the fishponds. (5-6) Further bibliography (7) Scheduled Monument (8) A review of lidar imagery and an extensive range of aerial photographs shows the earthworks, of fishponds, boundary banks, possible round pillow mounds, ditches, and possible quarrying around the current Lavendon Grange (Monument Number 346955), and the site of the Abbey. It is not clear which earthworks are associated with the earlier Abbey or are part of the landscaping of the later Grange. Centred at SP 90321 53393 and SP 90118 53643 are what appears to be quarrying earthworks, as they do not form a coherent pattern, and those to the south appear to cut through earlier boundary banks. The features visible and mapped largely correspond to the plan of the earthworks made by Brown & Everson (Source 9). (9-10)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : OS 6" 1960
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Source Number : 4
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Source details : F1 JRL 22-MAR-1974
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Source Number : 5
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Source details : Andrew Miller/23-AUG-1994/RCHME: AP Primary Recording Project
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Source Number : 6
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Source details : NHC 5607/28-30 05-DEC-1988
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Source Number : 7
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Source Number : 8
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Source details : Full details online at The National Heritage List for England
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Source Number : 9
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Source details : LIDAR SP9053 Environment Agency 1M DTM Jan 1998 - Sep 2014
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Source Number : 10
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Source details : Brown, T & Everson, P. Earthworks at Lavendon.
Page(s) : 45-64
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Vol(s) : 45, 2005

Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Extant
Monument End Date : 1536
Monument Start Date : 1155
Monument Type : Moat, Premonstratensian Monastery, Abbey, Fishpond, Ridge And Furrow
Evidence : Earthwork

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : BU 116
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 19064
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Unified Designation System UID
External Cross Reference Number : 1011309
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Buckinghamshire)
External Cross Reference Number : MMK147
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SP 95 SW 14
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1974-03-22
End Date : 1974-03-22

Associated Activities :
Activity type : AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION
Start Date : 1992-01-01
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 : AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION
Start Date : 2016-02-01
End Date : 2019-05-03

Historic England Research Records

Lavendon Abbey