Information for record number MWA1958:
Site of Priory of St Sepulchre, Priory Park

Summary The site of the Priory of St Sepulchre, which was founded in the Medieval period. Archaeological work uncovered evidence of some of the buildings and burials. The site lies in Priory Park, Warwick.
What Is It?  
Type: Monastery, Priory
Period: Medieval - Post-Medieval (1066 AD - 1750 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Warwick
District: Warwick, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 28 65
(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 On the site of a former parochial church of St Helen (PRN 1961) Henry de Newburgh began in 1109 to erect the Priory of St Sepulchre. The priors and canons later became absorbed into an ordinary Austin house of canons regular. The church and churchyard were consecrated in 1125-51. The house was suppressed in 1536.
2 There are no visible remains of the Priory, although material from it has been utilised in the construction of what remains of the 1556 mansion.
4 1971: Excavation in advance of building development located the site of the Priory of St Sepulchre, revealing part of the nave, the S aisle, and the chancel of the church. A cist containing three inhumations lay at the E end of the nave. Substantial walls were also found at the W end of the church, part of a range of buildings which included the chapter house. The buildings had been deliberately dismantled and the masonry reused in a mansion house (PRN 5520).
5 SAM Notes.
6 An archaeological watching brief did not identify any significant archaeological features.
7 The removal of a modern landscape island in the courtyard of Warwick Priory (SP28266529), as part of a larger programme of alterations and extensions, revealed only a series of modern drains cutting a layer deriving from the 1925 demolition of the main buildings of the post-medieval mansion house. However, the natural subsoil was not reached over most of the area and earlier remains may still have survived below.
8 Revision of schedule. New no 30052.
9 Documentary information about monastic cultivation of the crocus.
10 Brief history of the Priory.
11 Plan.
12 Plan of the Priory buildings, colour coded by period of construction.
13 Large scale map of the Priory area.
14 Observation of Excavations to investigate a damp problem on the south side of the CRO document store within the scheduled area revealed only 1970s construction layers.
15 Review of the 1971 evidence suggests a slightly different layout to that suggested by Ford.
 
Sources
Source No: 7
Source Type: Archaeological Report
Title: Warwick Priory / County Record Office: Archaeological Recording of Removal of Courtyard Island
Author/originator: Palmer N and Jones C
Date: 2002
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Report 0241
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 2, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Page W (ed)
Date: 1908
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 2
   
Source No: 15
Source Type: Conservation Plan
Title: Warwick Priory: A Conservation Statement
Author/originator: Palmer N
Date: 1999
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Version 1.0
   
Source No: 10
Source Type: Desk Top Study
Title: History of the Priory, Warwick
Author/originator:
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 9
Source Type: Descriptive Text
Title: Medieval cultivation of the crocus.
Author/originator: Turton, George F.
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: WMANS
Author/originator: WJF
Date: 1971
Page Number: 31
Volume/Sheet: 14
   
Source No: 13
Source Type: Map
Title: The Priory, Warwick
Author/originator: WCC
Date: 1971
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 11
Source Type: Plan
Title: The Priory, Warwick
Author/originator: WCC County Architect
Date: 1953
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 12
Source Type: Plan
Title: Site of the Priory of St Sepulchre, Warwick
Author/originator:
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: OS Card 29NE1
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1967
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 29NE1
   
Source No: 14
Source Type: Serial
Title: West Midlands Archaeology vol 48
Author/originator: S Watt (ed.)
Date: 2005
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: St Sepulchre's Priory
Author/originator: EH
Date: 1999
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: Priory of the Holy Sepulchre, Warwick
Author/originator: DoE
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: Priory of the Holy Sepulchre, Warwick
Author/originator: DoE
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Watching Brief Report
Title: Priory of St Sepulchre
Author/originator: Jones R
Date: 1994
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
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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.
 		back
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 WMANS West Midlands Archaeological News Sheet, a publication that was produced each year, this later became West Midlands Archaeology. The West Midlands Arcaheological News Sheet contains reports about archaeological work that was carried out in the West Midlands region in the previous year. It includes information about sites dating from the Prehistoric to the Post Medieval periods. It was produced the Department of Extramural Studies at Birmingham University. 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.
more -> 		back
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 HOUSE * A building for human habitation, especially a dwelling place. Use more specific type where known. 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 ARCHAEOLOGICAL FEATURE * Use only for features assumed to be archaeological but which cannot be identified more precisely without further investigation .Use more specific term where known 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 INHUMATION * An interment of unburnt, articulated human remains. Use specific type where known. 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 DRAIN * An artificial channel for draining water or carrying it off. 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 COURTYARD * An uncovered area, surrounded or partially surrounded by buildings. back
monument CHURCHYARD * An area of ground belonging to a church, often used as a burial ground. back
monument MANSION HOUSE * Traditionally the chief residence of a land owner. Now used specifically to describe the residence of the Lord Mayor of London. back
monument BURIAL * An interment of human or animal remains. Use specific type where known. If component use with wider site type. Use FUNERARY SITE for optimum retrieval in searches. back
monument MONASTERY * Houses specifically of monks, canons or religious men but not friars. back
monument ISLAND * A piece of land, sometimes man-made, completely surrounded by water. back
monument RECORD OFFICE * A building where official archives are kept for public inspection. back
monument WALL * An enclosing structure composed of bricks, stones or similar materials, laid in courses. Use specific type where known. back
monument CIST * Generally rectangular structure normally used for burial purposes, and formed from stone slabs set on edge, and covered by one or more horizontal slabs or capstones. Cists may be built on the surface or sunk into the ground. back
monument FORD * A shallow place in a river or other stretch of water, where people, animals and vehicles may cross. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record