Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Lesnes Abbey
Hob Uid: 407896
Location : Greater London Authority Bexley Non Civil Parish
Grid Ref : TQ4767078290
Summary : Augustinian Abbey of St Thomas the Martyr, founded 1178 by Richard de Luci, justiciar of England, and dissolved 1525. Excavations in the early 19th century recovered nearly all of the plan of the abbey. Much of it is of 12th century build and survives in places to 2-3 metres high. The aisled, cruciform, church lay to the South of the claustral buildings. The West range consisted of the brewhouse, kitchen and cellarer's building, the north range was the frater, and the East range had the sacristy, chapter house, parlour, dorter undercroft, and warming house. To the North of the East range was a Northwards extension containing the Abbots lodging and reredorter. East of the parlour was the infirmary with its chapel and misericord. Excavations in the 1950's located a further large building between the infirmary and parlour. The remains exist as ruins and footings.
More information : (TQ 479788) Remains of Lesnes Abbey (GT) (Augustinian, Founded A.D. 1178) (1) Lesnes Abbey, Augustinian Canons (Arrouaisian), founded 1178, dissolved 1525, excavated 1909-13 when a complete plan of the church and claustral block, infirmary, etc., was recovered. Re-excavated in the 1950's by the L.C.C. and MOW. Scheduled. (2-9) Lesnes Abbey is as described by Auth. 9: the ruins which are situated in a public park, are preserved by the L.C.C. and open to the public. Published 1:2500 survey revised (including the Conduit Pond at TQ47677829). (10) In 2013 groundworks in advance of the construction of the new visitor centre to the west of the abbey church revealed partial remains of what appears to be the lay cemetery for the abbey. Of the 26 burials thought to have been revealed, six skeletons were analysed in situ by Oxford Archaeology who concluded that the group included three males, one female, one junvenile and one where the sex was unclear. The full extent of the cemetery was not revealed. (12) (13) A research project undertaken by Historic England in 2018 and early 2019 focused on aspects of the wider abbey landscape and also its post-dissolution use. (13)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : OS 1:2500 1958
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Source Number : 12
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Source details : Gibson, M 2015 Osteological Report on Six Human Skeletons from Lesnes Abbey, Bexley. Oxford Archaeology South.
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Source Number : 13
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Source details : Rees, L 2020 Lesnes Abbey, Bexley, Greater London: An Archaeological Survey of Selected Areas of the Abbey Grounds.
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Source Number : 3
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Source details : Lesnes Abbey 1915 plan (A W Clapman)
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Source Number : 4
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Source details : Arch Cant 66 1953 150-2 (F C Elliston Erwood)
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Source Number : 5
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Source details : Arch Cant 68 1954 208-9 (F C Elliston Erwood)
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Source Number : 6
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Source details : Arch Cant 70 1956 246-7 (F C Elliston Erwood)
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Source Number : 7
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Source details : Arch Cant 72 1958 202 (F C Elliston Erwood)
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Source Number : 8
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Source details : AM England and Wales 1961 59
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Source Number : 9
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Source details : Lesnes Abbey Guide 1961 plan (L.C.C.)
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Source Number : 10
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Source details : F1 CFW 09-MAR-64
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Extant
Monument End Date : 1525
Monument Start Date : 1178
Monument Type : Augustinian Monastery, Pond, Abbey, Church, Sacristy, Chapter House, Refectory, Dormitory, Privy House, Undercroft, Warming House, Brewhouse, Kitchen, Cellarers Range, Monastic Dwelling, Cloister, Chapel, Infirmary, Cemetery
Evidence : Ruined Building, Earthwork, Sub Surface Deposit

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : LO 103
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Unified Designation System UID
External Cross Reference Number : 1002025
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Listed Building List Entry Legacy Uid
External Cross Reference Number : 198632
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Unified Designation System UID
External Cross Reference Number : 1359415
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Greater London)
External Cross Reference Number : 212000
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : TQ 47 NE 3
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Related Warden Records :

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1630-01-01
End Date : 1630-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1909-01-01
End Date : 1913-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1952-01-01
End Date : 1958-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1964-03-09
End Date : 1964-03-09

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