Information for record number MWA1655:
Priory of St Mary, Nuneaton

Summary The site of the Priory of St. Mary which was founded during the Medieval period. The site is located 50m west of Manor Court Road, Nuneaton.
What Is It?  
Type: Monastery, Priory
Period: Medieval (1066 AD - 1539 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Nuneaton and Bedworth
District: Nuneaton and Bedworth, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 35 92
(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
Picture(s) attached

  
Description

  
Source Number  

1 Attached to the Order of Fontevrault. Founded between 1155 and 1159. The community consisted of sisters and brothers, living apart, but meeting in the church for common worship. The number of 'inmates' was very large. In 1328 there were 89 nuns and in 1234 there were 93. The priory was surrendered in 1539.
2 VCH description, was a nunnery.
5 Remains include the church of St Mary (MWA6311), various disturbed banks and mounds suggesting the site of the Infirmary etc (PRN 6312) and the lowest courses of the jambs of the chapter house have been excavated (MWA6313).
6 The abbey precinct formed a triangular area between the river, abbey Street and Queens Road. This precinct was divided into an inner and an outer court. The former was the cloisters and conventual buildings that surround it and the latter was W of the main buildings. buildings included the Prior's House (PRN 6314), cloisters (PRN 6315) etc.
9 Excavations of parts of the priory were undertaken in 1981, 1986, 1987. Part of the precinct in the area of Manor Court was evaluated in 1991 (see related PRNs).
10 The scheduled area of this monument was revised in 1991 (now SAM 17005 - was SAM Warwicks 105)
11 An Excavation was carried out of the foundations of a new conservatory; no features of archaeological significance were found.
12 Archaeological observation of a gas pipe trench identified material relating to the demolition of the priory buildings.
13 An evaluation trench excavated in 1987 c.50m east of the cloisters revealed a robbed-out wall running N-S for at least 9m. A slighter wall extending west may be part of the same structure. The structure was abandoned in the 16th century and robbed in the 17th.
14 French survey by A Dunet.
15 Two small areas were excavated in the NE corner of the abbey Field in 1986. These produced evidence of robbed out Medieval wall lines and other features
16 Notion of a double house in
1 is incorrect, apparently a misinterpretation of VCH.
18 Notes.
19 Plans from the DoE Central Excavation Unit.
20 Note about unauthorised construction.
21 Letter from 1990 about the development within the priory precinct.
22 Letter from the architects about the vulnerable condition of the walls.
23 General notes on the priory and on the later Anglican church.
24 Communications with British Gas in advance of
12.
25 Letter from EH about Manor Court Old People's Home.
26 Report on work in the footprint of the vicarage in 1987; lines of rubble were recorded, most likely from robbed out walls. Salvage recording also took place in the grounds of Manor Court, where two substantial walls were recovered running parallel to Hollystitches Brook. These were associated with a substantial depth of stratigraphy and were of different constructions. They form the first firm evidence of monastic buildings to the west of the cloisters.
27 Report on work in 1986, 50m east of the cloisters in the northeastern corner of abbey Field.Early Medieval to post-Medieval features were recorded, including roobed-out walls that almost certainly belong to the extra-claustral layout of the priory.
28 No evidence was recorded of the priory or precinct boundary during observation at Pool Bank Recreation Ground to the east adjacent to the scheduled area of the priory.
29 Records were made of the extant walls of the former nave, transept and chapter house prior to consolodation work.
30 Brief history of the priory contained in a local history leaflet.
 
Sources
Source No: 13
Source Type: Article in serial
Title: Medieval Archaeology: Medieval Britain and Ireland in 1986
Author/originator: S M Youngs, J Clark and T B Barry
Date: 1987
Page Number: 110-191
Volume/Sheet: 31
   
Source No: 17
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: The Abbey Church of St Mary the Virgin, Nuneaton
Author/originator: The Abbey Church of St Mary the Virgin
Date: 1986
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 30
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: From Eaton to Nuneaton: A History of St. Mary's Abbey
Author/originator: E.A. Veasey
Date: 2000
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 14
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: French dissertation about Nuneaton Priory
Author/originator: Dunet A
Date: 1992
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: St Mary's Priory, Nuneaton
Author/originator: Jenkinson, H
Date: 1922
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 4, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Salzman L F (ed)
Date: 1947
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 4
   
Source No: 29
Source Type: Building Survey
Title: Archaeological recording of the former nave, transept and chapter house walls at St Mary's Priory Church, Nuneaton, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Catherine Coutts
Date: 2010
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 1055
   
Source No: 21
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Nuneaton Priory
Author/originator: WM
Date: 1990
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 22
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Priory Walls at St Mary's Nuneaton
Author/originator: Willars Hyde, architects
Date: 1991
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 24
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: St Mary's Priory ste, Nuneaton
Author/originator: British Gas West Midlands
Date: 1993
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 25
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: St Mary's Priory, Nuneaton
Author/originator: EH
Date: 1997
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 15
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: St Mary's Priory, Nuneaton
Author/originator:
Date: 1986
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: TBAS vol 91
Author/originator: D. Andrews, A. Cook, V Quant, J.C. Thorn, E.A. Veasey
Date: 1981
Page Number: 56-79
Volume/Sheet: 91
   
Source No: 11
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: Manor Court Nuneaton
Author/originator: Warwickshire Museum
Date: 1993
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 12
Source Type: Evaluation Report
Title: Archaeological Observation of a gas pipe trench at The Old Rectory, Nuneaton Priory
Author/originator: Hicks D
Date: 1994
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 20
Source Type: Note
Title: Manor Court Road, Nuneaton
Author/originator:
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 28
Source Type: Observation Report
Title: Archaeological Observation at Pool Bank Recreation Ground, Nuneaton
Author/originator: Thompson P
Date: 2002
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Report No 0201
   
Source No: 19
Source Type: Plan
Title: St Mary' s Abbey, Nuneaton
Author/originator: WM
Date: 1981
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Plan
Title: TBAS vol 91
Author/originator: D. Andrews
Date: 1981
Page Number: Fig 3
Volume/Sheet: 91
   
Source No: 23
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: St Mary's Priory, Nuneaton
Author/originator:
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: OS Card 29NE1
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1967
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 29NE1
   
Source No: 9
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: SMR Card
Author/originator:
Date: 1991
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: PRN 1655
   
Source No: 27
Source Type: Serial
Title: WMA vol 29
Author/originator: Jones M
Date: 1986
Page Number: 55
Volume/Sheet: 29
   
Source No: 26
Source Type: Serial
Title: WMA vol 31
Author/originator: Jones M
Date: 1988
Page Number: 34
Volume/Sheet: 31
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Serial
Title: TBAS vol 69
Author/originator: Brown H E
Date: 1951
Page Number: 40
Volume/Sheet: 69
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: Priory of St Mary, Nuneaton
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1954
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: Priory (Remains of), Nuneaton
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1986
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 10
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: Priory of St Mary, Nuneaton
Author/originator: English Heritage
Date: 1991
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 18
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: A History of the First Fontevrault Establishment in England-Nuneaton
Author/originator: Anne Christine Dunet
Date: 1992
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 16
Source Type: Verbal communication
Title: Pers. Comm. Magnus Alexander
Author/originator: Magnus Alexander
Date: 2006
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
An engraving of the Priory of St. Mary, Nuneaton
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 1800s
Click here for larger image  
 
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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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source OS Card Ordnance Survey Record Card. Before the 1970s the Ordnance Survey (OS) were responsible for recording archaeological monuments during mapping exercises. This helped the Ordnance Survey to decide which monuments to publish on maps. During these exercises the details of the monuments were written down on record cards. Copies of some of the cards are kept at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. The responsibility for recording archaeological monuments later passed to the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historic Monuments. back
source SMR Card Sites and Monuments Record Card. The Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record began to be developed during the 1970s. The details of individual archaeological sites and findspots were written on record cards. These record cards were used until the 1990s, when their details were entered on to a computerised system. The record cards are still kept at the office of the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
source TBAS Transactions of the Birmingham and Warwickshire Archaeological Society is a journal produced by the society annually. It contains articles about archaeological field work that has taken place in Birmingham and Warwickshire in previous years. Copies of the journal are kept by the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
source VCH The Victoria County History of the Counties of England. This publication covers the history of each county in England. For Warwickshire, seven volumes were published between 1904 and 1964. They comprise a comprehensive account of the history of each town and village in the county, and important families connected to local history. Each volume is organised by 'hundred', an Anglo-Saxon unit of land division. The Victoria County History also contains general chapters about Warwickshire's prehistory, ecclesiastical and economic history. A copy of each volume is held at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
source WMA West Midlands Archaeology. This publication contains a short description for each of the sites where archaeological work has taken place in the previous year. It covers Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire. Some of these descriptions include photographs, plans and drawings of the sites and/or the finds that have been discovered. The publication is produced by the Council For British Archaeology (CBA) West Midlands and is published annually. Copies are held at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
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 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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monument POOL * A small body of water, either natural or artificial. back
monument CONSERVATORY * A glasshouse used to grow and display tender decorative plants. May be either an extension to a house or freestanding. back
monument HOUSE * A building for human habitation, especially a dwelling place. Use more specific type where known. 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 CHAPTER HOUSE * The building attached to a cathedral or collegiate church where the dean, prebendaries or monks and canons met for the transaction of business. back
monument VICARAGE * The residence of a vicar, parson or rector. 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 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 NUNNERY * Houses specifically of nuns/canonesses or religious women. back
monument FOOTPRINT * An impression made in soft ground by a passing animal or human. The soft ground may have subsequently hardened. back
monument FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. back
monument PRIORY * A monastery governed by a prior or prioress. Use with narrow terms of DOUBLE HOUSE, FRIARY, MONASTERY or NUNNERY. back
monument CHURCH * A building used for public Christian worship. Use more specific type where known. back
monument ABBEY * A religious house governed by an abbot or abbess. Use with narrow terms of DOUBLE HOUSE, MONASTERY or NUNNERY. back
monument ROAD * A way between different places, used by horses, travellers on foot and vehicles. back
monument COMMUNICATIONS * This is the top term for the class. See COMMUNICATIONS Class List for narrow terms. back
monument CLOISTER * A covered walk, walled on one side and usually arcaded on the other, surrounding or partly surrounding an open area in a monastery or similar complex of Christian buildings. back
monument FIELD * An area of land, often enclosed, used for cultivation or the grazing of livestock. back
monument MANOR * An area of land consisting of the lord's demesne and of lands from whose holders he may exact certain fees, etc. back
monument TRENCH * An excavation used as a means of concealment, protection or both. back
monument STRUCTURE * A construction of unknown function, either extant or implied by archaeological evidence. If known, use more specific type. back
monument DOUBLE HOUSE * Mixed house of nuns and religious men. back
monument MONASTERY * Houses specifically of monks, canons or religious men but not friars. back
monument INFIRMARY * A building used for the care of the sick. Only to be used where part of a complex, eg. a workhouse. In such cases use with appropriate monument type. back
monument RECREATION GROUND * A public ground with facilities for games and other activities. back
monument MOUND * A natural or artificial elevation of earth or stones, such as the earth heaped upon a grave. Use more specific type where known. back
monument ANGLICAN CHURCH * Any church of the Anglican Communion. 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