Information for record number MWA3201:
St Mary's Abbey, Kenilworth

Summary The remains of St Mary's Abbey, Kenilworth. Founded as a Priory in the Medieval period, it was promoted to an Abbey in the middle of the fifteenth century. It was dissolved in 1538. The site is in the north east part of Abbey Fields.
What Is It?  
Type: Monastery, Church, Cloister, Chapter House, Bell Tower, Hospital, Gatehouse
Period: Medieval (1066 AD - 1539 AD)
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: )
Listed Building (Grade: I)
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

  
Source Number  

1 Priory of Augustin canons, afterwards an Abbey, was founded in 1122 by Godfrey de Clinton about the same time as the Castle. The Abbey was dissolved in April 1538.
2 S of the High Street, behind the Church of St Nicholas, lie the scant remains of the Augustinian Monastery, founded in 1122 as a Priory but raised to the rank of Abbey about 1450. The only buildings of which substantial proportions remain are the gatehouse (PRN 6007) and, S of it, a building identified as the Guest House (PRN 6008). Of the other buildings only a few shapeless blocks of rubble rise above ground level. Excavation has revealed part of the ground plan, including the Church and a Church tower (PRN 5384), a chapter house and cloisters (PRN 5385) and the infirmary (PRN 5386).
7 Gateway: a 14th century red sandstone building in fair condition but very overgrown. Domestic building: 14th century in red sandstone, originally with an upper floor approx 8ft from the ground. Gable ends, one of timber filled in with brick-work. The two buildings form a small part of this large complex.
8 1951: The remains of the Abbey consist mainly of turf-covered foundations, although parts still stand to original height. 1968: All foundations E of the path which bisects the site have been levelled and grassed over.
9 Resistivity survey carried out by the University of Warwick in 1996 gave disappointing results over part of the Abbey Church, but suggested the site of a possible building or quarry just outside the gatehouse (see also WA 8404).
10 During Excavation of a cable trench for floodlighting of St. Nicholas's Church, a sandstone wall was revealed, possibly part of the monastic precinct boundary, constructed around the time that the parish church of St. Nicholas was built.
11 The observation of the removal and replacement of play equipment (SP28507227) revealed medieval roof tile and some glazed floor tile.
12 Further observation of the removal of play equipment and Excavation of trenches for new equipment (SP28477229) revealed evidence of red sandstone walls, possibly from a complex associated with the Abbey. The walls were overlaid by a layer of sandstone rubble brick and tile, from which a single sherd of 14th/15th century green glazed jug was recovered, suggesting a medieval date for the walls.
13 The site is within the Scheduled area of the SAM of Kenilworth Abbey (Monument Number 35115).
14 A dissertation on the Abbey within its wider landscape.
15 The Priory at Kenilworth was founded in 1122 by Geoffrey de Clinton, Chamberlain and Treasurer to Henry I. It was raised to the rank of Abbey in the 15th centuryand its ruins are now near to the parish church.
 
Sources
Source No:
Source Type: Aerial Photograph
Title: SP0551
Author/originator: Hartley R F
Date: 1990
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: SP0551 F
   
Source No: 10
Source Type: Archaeological Report
Title: Archaeological Recording at St. Nicholas's Church, Kenilworth, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Palmer S & Jones R
Date: 2001
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Report 0110
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 6, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Salzman L F (ed)
Date: 1951
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: VI
   
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: 5
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: AM7
Author/originator: DoE
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Descriptive Text
Title: LBL
Author/originator: DoE
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: TBAS vol 52:1
Author/originator: Carey-Hill E
Date: 1927
Page Number: 184-227
Volume/Sheet: 52:1
   
Source No: 9
Source Type: Evaluation Report
Title: Evaluation Report
Author/originator: Ireland, S
Date: 1996
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No:
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: 11
Source Type: Observation Report
Title: Archaeological Observation at Abbey Fields Play Area, Kenilworth
Author/originator: C Coutts & R Newman
Date: 2001
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Report 0115
   
Source No: 12
Source Type: Observation Report
Title: Further Archaeological Observation at Abbey Fields Play Area, Kenilworth, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Newman R
Date: 2002
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Report No 0203
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Plan
Title: TBAS vol 52:1
Author/originator: Carey-Hill E
Date: 1927
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 52:1
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: OS Card 25NE6
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1968
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: SAM list
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1985
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 13
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: Kenilworth Abbey
Author/originator: English Heritage
Date: 2003
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 14
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: The Augustinian Abbey of St. Mary, Kenilworth - A Study of the Power and Wealth of a Medieval Monastic House
Author/originator: Butterworth, J.
Date: 1994
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
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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designation Listed Building Buildings and structures, such as bridges, that are of architectural or historical importance are placed on a statutory list. These buildings are protected by planning and conservation acts that ensure that their special features of interest are considered before any alterations are made to them.

Depending on how important the buildings are they are classed as Grade I, Grade II* or Grade II. Grade I buildings are those of exceptional interest. Grade II* are particularly important buildings of more than special interest. Those listed as Grade II are those buildings that are regarded of special interest.
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source LBL Listed Building List. Buildings and structures, such as bridges, that are of architectural or historical importance are placed on a list. Buildings placed on the list are protected through various planning and conservation acts which ensure that their special features of interest are considered before any alterations are made to them. The Listed Buildings List is compiled and maintained by English Heritage. It includes details of where the building is, when it was built, a description of its appearance, and any other special features. 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 SAM List Scheduled Ancient Monument List. A list or schedule of archaelogical and historic monuments that are considered to be of national importance. The list contains a detailed description of each Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM) and a map showing their location and extent. By being placed on the schedule, SAMs are protected by law from any unauthorised distrubance. The list has been compiled and is maintained by English Heritage. It is updated periodically. 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
technique Resistivity Survey A resistivity survey measures the electrical resistance of the soil and any buried features within it. Where there are buried pits and ditches, there is less resistance to the flow of electricity. Where there are archaeological remains made from stone, for example a wall, the resistance is greater. These differences in resistance are measured and recorded by archaeologists using a resistivity meter. The measurements can then be used to plot features that exist below the ground. See also geophysical survey. 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 UNIVERSITY * A group of colleges and associated buildings belonging to a university. back
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 BUILDING * A structure with a roof to provide shelter from the weather for occupants or contents. Use specific type where known. back
monument GUEST HOUSE * A separate residence for guests, a house on a private estate or a monastery building specifically for receiving visitors. 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 TOWER * A tall building, either round, square or polygonal in plan, used for a variety of purposes, including defence, as a landmark, for the hanging of bells, industrial functions, etc. Use more specific type where known. back
monument PARISH CHURCH * The foremost church within a parish. 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 FAIR * A site where a periodical gathering of buyers, sellers and entertainers, meet at a time ordained by charter or statute or by ancient custom. back
monument ABBEY * A religious house governed by an abbot or abbess. Use with narrow terms of DOUBLE HOUSE, MONASTERY or NUNNERY. back
monument PATH * A way made for pedestrians, especially one merely made by walking (often not specially constructed). 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 CASTLE * A fortress and dwelling, usually medieval in origin, and often consisting of a keep, curtain wall and towers etc. back
monument BELL TOWER * A tower or turret in which bells are hung. back
monument GATEHOUSE * A gateway with one or more chambers over the entrance arch; the flanking towers housing stairs and additional rooms. Use with wider site type where known. back
monument FIELD * An area of land, often enclosed, used for cultivation or the grazing of livestock. back
monument AUGUSTINIAN MONASTERY * An abbey or priory of Augustinian canons. 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 HOSPITAL * An establishment providing medical or surgical treatment for the ill or wounded. Use narrower term where possible. back
monument TRENCH * An excavation used as a means of concealment, protection or both. back
monument GATEWAY * A substantial structure supporting or surrounding a gate. May be ornate or monumental, and have associated structures such as lodges, tollbooths, guard houses etc. 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 QUARRY * An excavation from which stone for building and other functions, is obtained by cutting, blasting, etc. back
monument WALL * An enclosing structure composed of bricks, stones or similar materials, laid in courses. Use specific type where known. back
monument DOMESTIC * This is the top term for the class. See DOMESTIC Class List for narrow terms. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record