Monument record MDO2 - Abbotsbury Abbey

St Peter's Abbey was founded as a college for secular canons in around AD 1026. The earliest remains now visible include late 12th century carved decoration and 13th and 14th century architectural features. The Abbey was dissolved in 1539.

St Peters Abbey was founded as a college for secular canons in circa 1026 by Orc, a chief minister of King Canute. Circa 1044, it became Benedictine. The site may have belonged to Glastonbury Abbey in the tenth century and an early monastic settlement at the site is possible. Very little is known of the earliest remains, as extensive demolition occurred during the Norman period, when new buildings were constructed. The earliest remains now visible include late 12th century carved decoration and 13th and 14th century architectural features. The Abbey was dissolved in 1539. <7>

<1> Moule, H J, 1887, Abbotsbury Abbey (Article in serial). SWX977.

<2> Penny, G H, Notes on the antiquities of Abbotsbury, p50-52 (Article in serial). SWX1073.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West) (Monograph). SDO97.

<4> Green, Canon H G, and Green, C P, 1970, Report on excavations at Abbotsbury Abbey, Dorset, 1967; Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 152-153 (Article in serial). SWX1119.

<5> Society for Medieval Archaeology, 1972, Medieval Archaeology: journal of the Society for Medieval Archaeology 16, p173 (Serial). SWX9220.

<6> Knowles, D, 1982, Medieval Religious Houses in England and Wales, p466, 58 (Monograph). SWX1201.

<7> DCMS, 1997, Scheduled Monument Notification 1997, 16/05/1997 (Scheduling record). SDO17426.

<8> Hall, T A, 2000, Minster Churches in the Dorset Landscape, 19-20, 304 (Monograph). SDO10264.

<9> Morris, P, 2002, Abbotsbury Historic Landscape Research Report (Digital archive). SWX8817.

<10> Carter, Katy (ed), 2004, Heritage Unlocked: Guide to free sites in Devon, Dorset and Somerset, 34-5 (Monograph). SDO18928.

<11> Heaton, M, 2004, St. Peters Abbey, Abbotsbury, Dorset; Scheduled Monument No. 22961, Construction of Recreational Structures May 2004, Archaeological Watching Brief (Unpublished document). SDO10222.

<12> Heaton, M, 2011, Abbey Farm Pond, Abbotsbury, Dorset. De-silting February-March 2011. Archaeological Watching Brief, ED05634 (Unpublished document). SDO12409.

<13> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP10372 (Index). SDO14738.

The tithe barn was part of the Benedictine monastery complex founded in Abbotsbury in 1044. Nearly 80 meters in length, its great size is an indicator of the wealth of the abbey prior to its dissolution in 1539.

<14> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP10373 (Index). SDO14738.

The Benedictine monastery complex at Abbotsbury was founded in 1044. The huge tithe barn lay to the south of the site. St. Catherine's Chapel was built by the monks on a hilltop to the south-east of the site as a pilgrimage chapel.

<15> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP10374 (Index). SDO14738.

The parish church of St. Nicholas, Abbotsbury. St. Catherine's Chapel was built by the Benedictine monks of Abbotsbury Abbey on a hilltop to the south-east of the abbey complex as a pilgrimage chapel.

<16> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24463 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of the entrance arch to Abbotsbury Abbey, from the west

<17> Historic England, Historic England Archive, PF/ABA (Index). SDO14738.

Abbotsbury Abbey, Abbotsbury, Dorset. Three drawings, a plan of the barn from 1939, a deed plan, probably from the 1950s, and a later copy of it.

<18> National Record of the Historic Environment, 450348 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 2:42PM