More information : TL 76204980 Chipley Abbey on site of (NAT) Abbey
(NR) (1)
Chipley Abbey appears to be the local name given to the former
Priory which stood on this site. There was never an Abbey here. (2)
Augustinian Priory of Chipley dedicated to the Blessed Virgin
Mary is first recorded in 1235 and appears to have been
ruinous in 1455. It was annexed to the college of
Stoke-by-Clare in 1468. (3)
A modern farmhouse known as Chipley Abbey occupies the site of
the Augustinian Priory and incorporates a small part of the
west range of monastic buildings. The priory church is said to
have been destroyed in 1818 when some of the carved stones were
transported to the rectory garden. In a field to the west some
very curious circular brick foundations of unknown significance
were discovered in 1952. (See TL 74 NE 2 for associated
fishpond(s)). (4)
Chipley Abbey, name confirmed, is a brick and flint rubble
building much altered in the 19th century. The northern half of
the house, built mainly of flint, is obviously that described
by Authority 4 as part of the monastic buildings but there are
no architectural features confirming a 13th century date. A
17th century brick chimney is incorporated into the eastern
side of the victorian part of the house.
There are several fragments of dressed and ornamented stone
distributed throughout the garden but no other evidence of
former buildings. The foundations indicated by Authority 4
were, according to the present owner (a), found at TL
76144975 during ground clearance for farm buildings, nothing of
these is now evident.
In 1960 a new lawn was laid at TL 76254975 and a number of
human bones discovered and reburied (a).
A stone coffin and a bell recovered from the fishpond in the
19th century are kept at Poslingford church. (a).
See photograph, and revised plan with TL 74 NE 2. (5)
|