Scheduled Monument: Pre-Conquest monastery, early Christian cemetery, Augustinian priory and a motte and bailey castle at Christchurch (1018277)

EXTRACT FROM ENGLISH HERITAGE'S RECORD OF SCHEDULED MONUMENTS MONUMENT: Pre-Conquest monastery, early Christian cemetery, Augustinian priory and a motte and bailey castle at Christchurch PARISH: CHRISTCHURCH DISTRICT: CHRISTCHURCH COUNTY: DORSET NATIONAL MONUMENT NO: 22962 NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE(S): SZ16039255 DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT The monument includes a pre-Conquest monastery and associated early Christian cemetery, a later Augustinian priory and an adjacent motte and bailey castle, all situated on level ground between the estuaries of the Rivers Avon and Stour at Christchurch. The priory precinct overlies part of, and extends beyond, the fortified town of Twynham, which dates from the early seventh century AD. The pre-Conquest monastery and cemetery lay within the boundaries of the town. The earliest remains at the site include the pre-Conquest monastery and an associated early Christian cemetery. The monastery was associated with the Saxon burgh (fortified town) known as `Twynham' (meaning place between the streams). Documentary sources suggest that a church, founded at the site during the later Saxon period, served a college of 24 canons. Records also suggest that by the late 11th century the Saxon church was associated with seven chapels within the churchyard, and that these were demolished c.1100 AD in order to make way for a new church building designed by Flambard. This in turn became the priory church of the Augustinian priory founded by Baldwin de Redvers around 1150. The church was incomplete at this time and the nave was not finally completed until 1234. The priory formed an important Augustinian house within the region and its presence ensured that the town thrived as a trading centre. This importance is reflected in the change of the name from Twynham to Christchurch soon after the construction of the priory. The priory church is well preserved and has served as the parish church since 1540, when it was granted to the parish by Henry VIII. The churchyard is now closed. The main monastic structures were around the cloister block, situated to the south of the church. Many of these were demolished following The Dissolution, but partial excavation has confirmed the survival of foundations beneath and around Priory House, which was constructed to the south of the church in 1765. The area surrounding the priory church and associated monastic structures was enclosed by a wall, forming a precinct about 4ha in area. This area is known precisely from a combination of documentary sources, standing remains and partial excavations. The precinct was constrained by existing development to the north and a mill-leat to the south and east. The course of the priory wall, which has been rebuilt over the years, includes fragments of original wall constructed of sandstone blocks. The precinct was entered via a gateway in the north west which survives as a sandstone built wall approximately 2m high. The adjacent Priory Cottage originally formed a gatehouse built by Prior Draper in 1520. Partial excavation within the southern precinct area has revealed the presence of two garderobes built against the priory wall to the north of the mill leat. The south western area of the precinct contained Place Mill, mentioned as a property of the priory in the Domesday Survey. The mill has stone foundations dating from the 12th century and was served by a millstream which diverted water from the River Avon approximately 1km to the north east. Immediately to the north east of the mill is a stone-built loading quay and bridge across the leat, both of which are included in the scheduling. Place Mill is the only water powered flour mill known to have served the priory and town during the medieval period. In 1539 it was converted into a fulling mill for the preparation of woollen cloth and the structure was extensively renovated. It was leter re-converted into a flour mill and continued in operation until 1908, when it became a boat store. The mill was restored in 1980 and opened to the public. The castle is situated to the north east of the priory and was constructed by Richard de Redvers around AD 1100. The Norman castle included a motte or earthen mound and an adjacent enclosure, known as a bailey. The motte mound has maximum dimensions of 50m in diameter and approximately 5m in height and may, originally, have supported a timber tower. The motte was enlarged to its present size in order to accommodate the stone keep or tower which was built after AD 1300. The bailey occupied the area to the north east of the motte and, originally, it will have been defined by banks and walls. Partial excavations have demonstrated the presence of buried archaeological deposits within this area. To the north east is the well preserved structure of the Norman great hall which dates from c.AD 1160. The hall is aligned north west by south east and has maximum dimensions of 18.5m by 7m. The structure is likely to have provided the main accommodation of the Norman castle and it continued in use over a long period. It later became the residence of the Constable and is now often known as `The Constable's House'. Both the castle and The Constable's House are Listed Grade I and are in the care of the Secretary of State. The castle was besieged and captured by Walter de Pinkney in 1148. Subsequently, although re-fortified, it became a residence and played little strategic role in later conflicts. Despite playing little part in the Civil War, the castle was ordered to be demolished by Parliament in 1651, when its defences were levelled. The area has been used as public gardens for much of the 20th century. Excluded from the scheduling are the structures of the priory church (Listed Grade I) in use as a parish church, Priory House (Listed Grade II) in use as church offices and for robing of the clergy, Priory Cottage (Listed Grade II*) which is in residential use, the brick structure interior of Place Mill (Listed Grade II*) including the machinery, which is all of 17th century date or later, (although the stone foundations and associated water channels are included), the structure of the Tricycle Museum, all fence posts, gates, railings, sign-posts, lampposts, benches, metalled surfaces, all modern structures, including the public shelter, modern bowls pavilion and shed, although the ground beneath all of these features is included. ASSESSMENT OF IMPORTANCE The early medieval burgh of Twynham, one of nine burghs and 12 early medieval towns in the east Wessex sub-province of southern England, contained within its southern portion a rare pre-Conquest monastery and associated cemetery, later replaced by a priory and a castle. The earlier remains survive in buried form, being one of only around 50 of the pre-Conquest monastic sites in England whose location has been confirmed, in this case by partial excavation since 1969. The later features remain visible as a combination of earthworks and standing structures, with additional buried remains also recorded. The two principal components visible today can be found adjacent to one another in the south of the modern town. The priory is one of some 225 religious houses nationally to belong to the order of St Augustine, a number of which were established in towns. Augustinians were not monks in the strict sense, but rather communities of canons - or priests - living under the rule of St Augustine. In England they came to be known as `black canons' because of their dark coloured robes. From the 12th century onwards they undertook much valuable work in the parishes, running almshouses, schools and hospitals, as well as maintaining, and preaching in, parish churches. It was from the churches that they derived much of their revenue. North of the priory is the motte and bailey castle, of which the motte is the most striking feature. Motte and bailey castles are medieval fortifications introduced into Britain by the Normans. They comprised a large conical mound of earth or rubble, the motte, surmounted by a palisade and a stone or timber tower. In a majority of cases, as aristocratic residences and as centres of local or royal administration. Built in towns, villages and open countryside, motte and bailey castles generally occupied strategic positions dominating their locality and, as a result, are the most visually impressive monuments of the early post-Conquest period surviving in the modern landscape. Over 600 motte castles or motte and bailey castles are recorded nationally, with examples known from most regions. As one of a restricted range of recognised early post-Conquest monuments, they are particularly important for many were occupied for only a short period of time, motte castles continued to be built and occupied from the 11th to the 13th centuries, after which they were superseded by other types of castle. The clear juxtaposition of priory and castle dominates the modern town of Christchurch, in a way that can rarely be seen elsewhere. The quality and extent of surviving remains in addition to documentary records covering the early medieval and medieval periods, give Christchurch much significance in the study of urban form and development. Visually it is an outstanding example of its type, with much accessible to the public. SCHEDULING HISTORY This scheduling incorporates two monuments which were included in the Schedule. 1. Monument placed in Guardianship on 20th May 1946 as: COUNTY/NUMBER: Hampshire 6 NAME: The Norman House Monument placed in Guardianship on 11th January 1954 as: COUNTY/NUMBER: Hampshire 6 NAME: Motte and keep of Christchurch Castle 2.Monument's inclusion in the Schedule was confirmed on 31st December 1987. Monument included as: COUNTY/NUMBER: Dorset 829 NAME: Christchurch Castle and Castle Hall, (Norman House) Monuments amalgamated on 16th January 1998 as: COUNTY/NUMBER: Dorset 22962 NAME: Pre-Conquest monastery, early Christian cemetery, Augustinian priory and a motte and bailey castle at Christchurch The reference of this monument is now: NATIONAL MONUMENT NUMBER: 22962 NAME: Pre-Conquest monastery, early Christian cemetery, Augustinian priory and a motte and bailey castle at Christchurch SCHEDULING AFFIRMED ON 29th April 1998

Record last edited

Dec 12 2024 3:34PM