Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Colne Priory
Hob Uid: 381328
Location : Essex Braintree Earls Colne
Grid Ref : TL8640028900
Summary : Remains of a Benedictine priory founded circa 1107, dissolved 1536, possibly near or on the site of a minster extant circa 1045. Excavations between 1929 and 1934 revealed an apsidal chapter house, the slype, the church and the start of the dorter. Findspot of Roman debris.
More information : (TL 86422897) St. Mary's Church (NR) (remains of)(NAT) (TL 864289) The Priory on site of (NAT) Priory (NR) (Benedictine Founded AD 1111) (NAT) (1) The Benedictine Priory of St. Mary and St. Andrew (also called St. Mary the Virgin and St. John the Evangelist) founded a little before 1111; dissolved 1536 (6). There was possibly an earlier monastery or college of priests, as a minster is mentioned in the will of Leofgifu circa 1045, probably founded in St. Andrew's Church at Earls Colne (TL860288). The site is now a level meadow divided into two parts by a ha-ha ditch which cuts through the foundations of the presbytery, cloister and chapter house (see map from authority 4). (2-6) Extant remains consist of the base of the north-west church tower and a single stone from the presbytery. In dry seasons some of the lines of the monastic buildings are visible in the turf on the north side of the present priory (3) (a house of 18th/19th century date, grade 2) (5). In 1929-34 excavations revealed the church, the apsed chapter house, the slype and the dorter (see plan from authority 4). A large amount of Roman debris was found. The present house replaced an earlier one which stood on the western side of the site, to south-west of the monastic church (4). The present house named 'The Priory' is not on the site of the Benedictine Priory. This stood at TL 86452893; site plotted at 1:2500. Apart from this all the previously recorded information is correct except that, the remaining stone of the presbytery has been removed to an unknown location. No more recent information on Roman debris was obtained. Published 1:2500 1966 revised. (7) Boundary wall to south, east and north east of Colne Priory. (Formerly listed as Boundary Wall at Colne Priory). Wall. Early C15, repaired in late C16 and mid-C17. Grade II* (see list for details). (8)

Sources :

Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : OS 1:10 000 1972
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Source Number : 2
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Page(s) : 102-5
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Vol(s) : 1907

Source Number : 3
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Source details :
Page(s) : 88
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Vol(s) : 1922

Source Number : 4
Source :
Source details : (F H Fairweather)
Page(s) : 275-95
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Vol(s) : 87 - 1937

Source Number : 5
Source :
Source details : DOE (HHR) Halstead RD Essex March 1960 43
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Source Number : 6
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Source details : (D Knowles & R N Hadcock)
Page(s) : 53, 64
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Vol(s) : 1971

Source Number : 7
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Source details : F1 GJM 29-SEP-76
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Source Number : 8
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Source details : DOE (HHR) Dist of Braintree 1987 40
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Roman
Display Date : Roman
Monument End Date : 410
Monument Start Date : 43
Monument Type : Building
Evidence : Conjectural Evidence

Monument Period Name : Early Medieval
Display Date :
Monument End Date : 1066
Monument Start Date : 1045
Monument Type : Minster
Evidence : Documentary Evidence

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Possibly extant until 1107
Monument End Date : 1111
Monument Start Date : 1066
Monument Type : Monastery
Evidence : Documentary Evidence

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Extant
Monument End Date : 1311
Monument Start Date : 1107
Monument Type : Benedictine Cell
Evidence : Ruined Building

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Extant
Monument End Date : 1536
Monument Start Date : 1311
Monument Type : Benedictine Monastery, Church, Slype, Dormitory, Chapter House
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 20642
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : TL 82 NE 1
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 : 1976-09-29
End Date : 1976-09-29

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1994-01-01
End Date : 1994-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2009-01-01
End Date : 2009-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 2011-01-01
End Date : 2011-12-31

Historic England Research Records

Colne Priory