Information for record number MWA10096:
Kenilworth Abbey Monastic Precinct

Summary The presumed area and boundary to Kenilworth Abbey during the medieval period. The site forms most of Abbey Fields and the park around the Abbey Street.
What Is It?  
Type: Monastic Precinct
Period: Unknown
Where Is It?  
Parish: Kenilworth
District: Warwick, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 28 72
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Scheduled Monument (Grade: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

 
Source Number  

1 The boundary of this precinct is mostly conjectural although some historic map evidence suggests it follows particular historic and modern boundary lines.
2 A 12th/13th century wall was exposed during excavation of the Little Virginia area in the north-western most part of the precinct. The wall ran approximately east to west with a distinct turn of the wall towards the south, forming the north west corner of the precinct.
4 A buried soil overlaid by layers, including demolition rubble containing medieval floor and roof tile was recorded during observation in 2007. No other features of the abbey or its precinct were recorded.
7 During a watching brief on the car park in 2013 a number of stone walls and areas of demolition debris were recorded. These features and finds were of a medieval date and are thought to be associated with the medieval abbey, however they were located outside of the main area of monastic buildings.
 
Sources

Source No: 3
Source Type: Conservation Plan
Title: Conservation Plan for Abbey Fields, Kenilworth
Author/originator: Kenilworth Abbey Advisory Committee
Date: 2005
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No:
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Kenilworth Abbey Fields, notes about historic culverts
Author/originator: David Brock
Date: 2004
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: An Account of Observations and Work Carried Out at Little Virginia, Kenilworth, During Spring 1973
Author/originator: Sunley H L G
Date: 1977
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Monograph
Title: Kenilworth: The Story of the Abbey
Author/originator: Sunley, H and Stevens, N
Date: 1995
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Observation Report
Title: Abbey Fields, Kenilworth Abbey, Kenilworth: Archaeological Watching Brief
Author/originator: Jones R & Thompson P
Date: 2011
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 1117
   
Source No:
Source Type: Photograph
Title: Kenilworth Abbey digital pictures
Author/originator: Daniel Brock
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Serial
Title: West Midlands Archaeology Vol 57
Author/originator: CBA West Midlands
Date: 2015
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: No 57
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Serial
Title: West Midlands Archaeology Vol 54
Author/originator: CBA West Midlands
Date: 2012
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 54
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: Archaeological Observation at Abbey Fields Car Park, Kenilworth Abbey, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Warwick Museum
Date: 2007
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Watching Brief Report
Title: Kenilworth Abbey Fields Car Park, Warwickshire: Archaeological Watching Brief
Author/originator: Coutts C & Rann C
Date: 2014
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Report No 1417
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
none Scheduled Monument Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs) are those archaeological sites which are legally recognised as being of national importance. They can range in date from prehistoric times to the Cold War period. They can take many different forms, including disused buildings or sites surviving as earthworks or cropmarks.

SAMs are protected by law from unlicensed disturbance and metal detecting. Written consent from the Secretary of State must be obtained before any sort of work can begin, including archaeological work such as geophysical survey or archaeological excavation. There are nearly 200 SAMs in Warwickshire.
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technique excavation Archaeologists excavate sites so that they can find information and recover archaeological materials before they are destroyed by erosion, construction or changes in land-use.

Depending on how complicated and widespread the archaeological deposits are, excavation can be done by hand or with heavy machinery. Archaeologists may excavate a site in a number of ways; either by open area excavation, by digging a test pit or a trial trench.
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period Modern The Modern Period, about 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
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period Medieval 1066 AD to 1539 AD (the 11th century AD to the 16th century AD)

The medieval period comes after the Saxon period and before the post medieval period.

The Medieval period begins in 1066 AD.
This was the year that the Normans, led by William the Conqueror (1066 – 1087), invaded England and defeated Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings in East Sussex.
The Medieval period includes the first half of the Tudor period (1485 – 1603 AD), when the Tudor family reigned in England and eventually in Scotland too.

The end of the Medieval period is marked by Henry VIII’s (1509 – 1547) order for the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the years running up to 1539 AD. The whole of this period is sometimes called the Middle Ages.
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period modern About 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
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monument LAYER * An archaeological unit of soil in a horizontal plane which may seal features or be cut through by other features. back
monument PRECINCT * The ground immediately surrounding a place, particularly a religious building. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument BUILDING * A structure with a roof to provide shelter from the weather for occupants or contents. Use specific type where known. back
monument CULVERT * A drainage structure that extends across and beneath roadways, canals or embankments. back
monument DEMOLITION DEBRIS * Debris derived from the demolition of buildings or other structures. If unsure of whether debris is resulting from construction or demolition, index with both terms. back
monument STONE * Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function. back
monument PARK * An enclosed piece of land, generally large in area, used for hunting, the cultivation of trees, for grazing sheep and cattle or visual enjoyment. Use more specific type where known. back
monument FLOOR * A layer of stone, brick or boards, etc, on which people tread. Use broader site type where known. back
monument BOUNDARY * The limit to an area as defined on a map or by a marker of some form, eg. BOUNDARY WALL. Use specific type where known. back
monument FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. back
monument ABBEY * A religious house governed by an abbot or abbess. Use with narrow terms of DOUBLE HOUSE, MONASTERY or NUNNERY. back
monument FIELD * An area of land, often enclosed, used for cultivation or the grazing of livestock. back
monument MONASTIC PRECINCT * The area surrounding a monastic house including conventual buildings, outbuildings, cemetery, fishponds, etc, usually marked out by a bank and/or ditch or precinct wall. back
monument CAR PARK * A place where cars and other road vehicles may be parked and left. back
monument SPRING * A point where water issues naturally from the rock or soil onto the ground or into a body of surface water. back
monument WALL * An enclosing structure composed of bricks, stones or similar materials, laid in courses. Use specific type where known. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record