Monument record MDO19868 - Sherborne Abbey, Sherborne; Chapter House

Excavations by L Keen and R Gem at the north side of the slype, Sherborne Abbey from 1974-6 revealed evidence for the abbey Chapter House. This was apparently constructed on the north side of The Slype during the 12th century, possibly by William Thorncombe and his brother Abbot Clement. The possible tomb of the latter was found beneath the Chapter House floor.

Found during excavations conducted by L. Keen and R. Gem between 1974-6 in advance of major work to bring The Slype and the romm above into use for Sherborne School. The results of the excavation have been published in DNHAS monograph 16 (1). Numbers in square brackets below refer to context numbers given in this report.

The Chapter House was revealed to be a rectangular building, built in the 12th century, (approximately 15m x 10m) attached to the north wall of The Slype and with its long axis oriented with the Abbey Church of St. Mary (E-W). There was a doorway [F588] located centrally in the western wall and leading to the cloister walk. The east ranges of the Abbey buildings extended northwards from the western end of the Chapter House north wall. The south wall of the Chapter House survived as the north wall of the Slype. Evidence for the earliest phase of the Chapter house can be seen as a truncated portion at the base of the wall with three equally spaced recesses that would have housed deatched columns supporting the vault. The wall above is a later rebuild. Between these recesses remains of painted wall plaster can still be seen.

The west wall was severely robbed in places but to the north of the doorway the width suggested the presence of a stone bench. Two steps led down from the cloister walk to the floor of the Chapter House, at which point the remains of decorated floor tiles were revealed in situ, dating from period 5 (c. 1240-1539). The north wall foundations were bonded with the west wall and comprised dressed stone with a mortared rubble core. The stone bench continued round the corner along the interior of the north wall. The east wall was partly robbed and partly incorporated into later buildings.

In the centre of the Chapter House was a stone coffin [F567], sealed beneath the later (period 5) floor of the room. This has been left in situ. The coffin tapered from 0.7m wide at the head to 0.51m at the foot. The skeleton contained within was of an adult male approximately 1.77m in height. The coffin lid had been removed, possibly at the time of the dissolution. A fragment of coffin lid, the tomb of Abbot Clement in the north choir aisle, fits this coffin well, suggesting that the burial may be that of Abbot Clement (1).

<1> Keen, L, and Ellis, P, 2005, Sherborne Abbey and School, pp.18-19; 21-3; 29-33; 141-2 (Monograph). SDO10263.

Record last edited

Aug 23 2024 1:08PM