More information : [Area TF 07766477] Abbey Hill Site of Priory [GT]. (1) The Augustinian priory of Nocton, or Nocton Park, was founded in honour of St. Mary Magdalene, probably during the reign of Stephen, and suppressed in 1536. Deep ploughing on Abbey Hill, to the north of the site of the abbey, has disturbed masonry which must belong to the church or other buildings (4); and air photographs show traces of earthworks which may be associated with the site. (2-5) The remains of the priory are represented by a series of grassed over foundations. The former fishponds to the NE are now visible only as crop marks. Surveyed at 1:2500. (6) The main area of foundations remains undisturbed. Although at present under grass the field is obviously arable, a clear plough baulk surrounding the site. The pecked line marking a feature going westwards from the southern extremity no longer exists. (7)
TF 077647. Nocton Priory (site of). Scheduled no. LI/238. (8)
The remains of the Medieval priory site recorded by Authorities 1-8 were seen as earthworks and mapped from poor quality air photographs. The following features were identified:-
An asymmetric enclosure, 170m by 170m, was not completely visible in the scrubby vegetation, but appears to have sub-divisions. The foundations of two possible buildings, approximately 30-32m by 10- 12m, lie near the centre of the enclosure at TF 0773 6477. Fifty metres downslope of the enclosure to the NE, a series of rectilinear fishponds, on average 30m by 9m, were recorded at TF 0779 6489; they are connected by water channels and drains. The fishponds are now under plough and were seen as soil marks on later photography. (Morph No. LI.888.1.1-5)
This description is based on data from the RCHME MORPH2 database. (9-9a) |