Information for record number MWA5385:
Site of Kenilworth Abbey Chapter House and Cloister

Summary The Medieval remains of Kenilworth Abbey Chapter House and Cloister. The site is to the north of the tennis courts in Abbey Fields.
What Is It?  
Type: Monastery, Chapter House, Cloister
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: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Picture(s) attached

 
Description

 
Source Number  

1 Of the monastic buildings only a few shapeless blocks of rubble survive above ground level. Traces of the cloisters were uncovered, including a 12th century apsidal chapter house to the S of the S transept of the church. The dorter, in the same range, was rebuilt and enlarged in the 15th century. The S range of the cloister, in which foundations of the sub-vault of the frater have been found, seems to date from the 14th century.
2 The walls of the chapter house were for the most part standing to 1.2m to 1.5m above the floor level and to the S side part stands to 6m. It was a large chamber, rectangular at the W end and apsidal at the E, and was about 15m by 8.5m. It was filled with carved stones from a fallen Norman vault.
3 Plan.
4 Photograph.
5 SAM List.
6 SAM List.
7 The site is within the Scheduled area of the SAM of Kenilworth Abbey (Monument Number 35115).
 
Sources

Source No: 1
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: 5
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: AM7
Author/originator: DoE
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
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: 4
Source Type: Photograph
Title: Kenilworth Abbey
Author/originator: Carey-Hill E
Date: 1927
Page Number: Plate 1
Volume/Sheet: 52:1
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Plan
Title: TBAS vol 52:1
Author/originator: Carey-Hill E
Date: 1927
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 52:1
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: SAM list
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1985
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: Kenilworth Abbey
Author/originator: English Heritage
Date: 2003
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
The remains of the cloisters at Kenilworth Abbey
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
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 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
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 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 CARVED STONE * A stone (including standing stones, natural boulders and rock outcrops) decorated with carved motifs. 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 FLOOR * A layer of stone, brick or boards, etc, on which people tread. Use broader site type where known. back
monument VAULT * An underground room or building with an arched roof, often used as a burial chamber. Use wider site type where known. 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 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 TENNIS COURT * A prepared area, traditionally grass, where tennis is played. back
monument FIELD * An area of land, often enclosed, used for cultivation or the grazing of livestock. back
monument MONASTERY * Houses specifically of monks, canons or religious men but not friars. 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