Information for record number MWA5289:
Remains of Abbey Buildings at Stoneleigh

Summary The remains of Stoneleigh Abbey buildings that are of Medieval date. Parts of the Abbey cloister, chapter house and dormitory survive and have been incorporated into a later building. The Abbey buildings were located 500m north west of The Grove.
What Is It?  
Type: House, Abbey, Chapter House, Cloister, Dormitory, Floor, Undercroft, Porch, Chapel
Period: Medieval (1066 AD - 1539 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Stoneleigh
District: Warwick, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 31 71
(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: )
Listed Building (Grade: I)
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

  
Source Number  

9 Present sandstone ashlar house built on four sides of a central open space roughly coincident with cloister garth of Cisterian Abbey founded in 1155. It embodies some remains of the Abbey, several 12th century arched doorways and portions of the walls. Also an early 14th century undercroft, probably to the dormitory at the south end of the east wing. This is 70 foot by 28 foot with a central row of octagonal columns supporting quadrapartite vaulting. Northern wing (Long Gallery) and east wing date from 1570s but incorporate south transept and south aisle of the monastic buildings. Northern wing largely reconstructed (by Charles S Smith of Warwick in early C19) when Gothic porch built in 1836. East wing of three storeys and attic is a succession of nine gables. Narrow south wing built in 1770. West wing designed by Francis Smith of Warwick between 1714-1726. Rectangle 170 foot by 45 foot. The west facade consists of a lower heavily rusticated ground storey, a main floor approached by an exterior staircase, and two upper storeys surmounted by a heavy projecting cornice and balustrade. Each of the two upper storeys has 15 windows; five in the central slightly projecting section; three in each of the recessed sections, and two in each of the slightly projecting flanking sections. Giant fluted Ionic angle pilasters. On the main floor at the head of the staircase is a doorway enriched by a curved pediment and fluted pilasters. On this floor the windows have curved pediments, and on the floor above trian- gular pediments, and on the top floor no pediments. All windows are sashes with glazing bars and are in moulded architraves with keyblocks. Interior of west wing contains a range of five State Apartments, a central entrance hall or saloon, flanked by two drawing rooms to north, and by a dining room and sitting room on south. Chapel immediately behind the southern two rooms. Saloon of mid 18th century date with very rich stucco work and screens of scagliola columns which divide room into 1 - 3 - 1 bays. Immediately behind saloon is early 18th century staircase by Thomas Eboral of Warwick and decorated wall panels and ceiling of circa 1764 by Robert Moore of Warwick. Chapel decorated in 1744 with woodwork by George Eboral and Benjamin King, stucco work by John Wright. Stoneleigh was the seat of the Leigh family, maternal relatives of Jane Austen, who is known to have visited the Abbey and found inspiration for her work
1 In 1535 the last Abbot surrendered to the Crown. The Abbey lay a roofless ruin until 1561. An Elizabethan building was constructed and remained substantially unaltered until 1710. The East wing of the house was built on the site of the Abbey's S transept and dormitory undercroft and a corresponding West wing on the South aisle. In 1714 more alterations were carried out.
2 The present house is built on four sides of a central open space roughly coincident with the cloister garth of the Abbey. The East wing embodies much of the ground floor of monastic buildings, although these are much altered. Traces of the 12th century chapter house can be distinguished and a slype, possible warming house and undercroft are also surviving parts of the Abbey. The undercroft, probably of the dormitory, is excellently preserved and 14th century in date. It is 21m by 8.5m with a central row of columns.
5 Summary of a series of watching briefs carried out at Stoneleigh Abbey, in 1999. Trenching by the east wall of the East Wing revealed part of the wall dividing the two side Chapels east of the south transept of the Abbey church and part of the north wall of the chapter house. A further wall, running north-south, was revealed c.13m east of the East Wing which may be the original east wall of the chapter house. Excavations beneath the floor in the chapter house revealed the base of the north jamb of the doorway into the cloister with surviving white and red paint. The level of the original medieval floor was visible 0.45m below the modern level. A drain Trench in the cloister revealed an area of in situ tiled floor towards the south end of the east alley. This contained a mix of monochrome and slip decorated, patterned tiles, many severely worn. A further collection of 136 loose tiles came to light in August 1999; this includes 37 designs, including five not previously recorded in Warwickshire.
6 Summary of a series of watching briefs carried out at Stoneleigh Abbey, in 1998. The east wall of the cloister arcade of the Abbey buildings was located in a Trench in the courtyard of the existing cloister.
7
8 In 2013 a watching brief identified further fragments of medieval tile in the area above the known floor. The works had been designed to cause minimal disturbance to the floor identified in the 1990's.
 
Sources
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: Stoneleigh Abbey
Author/originator: Kaines-Smith S C
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Descriptive Text
Title: LBL
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1987
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Stratford
   
Source No: 9
Source Type: Statuatory List
Title: National Heritage List for England
Author/originator: Historic England
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: OS Card 29NE1
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1967
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 29NE1
   
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: 5
Source Type: Serial
Title: West Midlands Archaeology Vol 42
Author/originator:
Date: 1999
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 42
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Serial
Title: WMA vol 41 (1998)
Author/originator: Mould, C (ed)
Date: 1999
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 41
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Watching Brief Report
Title: Stoneleigh Abbey Cloister, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire: Archaeological Watching Brief
Author/originator: Coutts C
Date: 2013
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Report No 1354
   
Images:  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
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 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 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 DORMITORY * Use with wider site type where known. 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 BALUSTRADE * A row of balusters, usually made of stone, surmounted by a rail or coping. back
monument FLOOR * A layer of stone, brick or boards, etc, on which people tread. Use broader site type where known. back
monument DRAIN * An artificial channel for draining water or carrying it off. back
monument APARTMENT * A room or suite of rooms used as dwellings, eg. in private houses, hotels or tenement houses. back
monument SLYPE * A covered way or passage especially in a cathedral or monastic church, leading east from the cloisters between transept and chapter house. back
monument CHURCH * A building used for public Christian worship. Use more specific type where known. back
monument FACADE * Use wider site type where known. Only use term where no other part of original building survives. back
monument ABBEY * A religious house governed by an abbot or abbess. Use with narrow terms of DOUBLE HOUSE, MONASTERY or NUNNERY. 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 SEAT * An external structure used to sit on. back
monument COURTYARD * An uncovered area, surrounded or partially surrounded by buildings. back
monument CLOISTER GARTH * The open space surrounded by a cloister. back
monument TRENCH * An excavation used as a means of concealment, protection or both. back
monument CHAPEL * A freestanding building, or a room or recess serving as a place of Christian worship in a church or other building. Use more specific type where known. back
monument COLUMN * Use for free standing column. back
monument WARMING HOUSE * A building or room within a monastery in which the monks were allowed to warm themselves. The warming house was often the only place where a fire was allowed. back
monument UNDERCROFT * A vault or crypt under a church or chapel. Use wider site type where known. back
monument ROW * A row of buildings built during different periods, as opposed to a TERRACE. back
monument ALLEY * A passageway or lane between buildings. back
monument WALL * An enclosing structure composed of bricks, stones or similar materials, laid in courses. Use specific type where known. back
monument WORKS * Usually a complex of buildings for the processing of raw materials. Use specific type where known. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record