Information for record number MWA7254:
Outer Court, St Mary's Priory, Nuneaton

Summary The outer court, or precinct of the priory, suggested by the medieval topography of Nuneaton. Archaeological investigation within the area of the precinct has recorded various medieval deposits.
What Is It?  
Type: Precinct, Building, Yard, Tenement
Period: Medieval - Post-Medieval (1066 AD - 1750 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: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

  
Source Number  

1 An archaeological evaluation was carried out in 1991 within an area known to be within the precinct of the medieval priory of St Mary. Three trial trenches were excavated; one trench revealed archaeological evidence for 13th and 15th century occupation on the site. This included a 13th century cobbled surface which was overlain by medieval building debris of a structure probably demolished in the 15th century. The 15th century building would presumably have belonged to the outer ranges of the priory; the evidence suggests that it was a domestic rather than an industrial building. The other two trenches did not reveal any archaeological deposits.
2 An evaluation of land next to the former physiotherapy block at Manor Hospital revealed evidence of the outer court of the medieval monastery. No direct evidence of associated structures was recovered from the evaluation area, but quantities of demolition rubble, decreasing in volume to the north east, suggest the presence of medieval buildings in the vicinity.
3 Archaeological observation during the construction of South Home, following on from the evaluation outlined in
2 recorded a medieval yard surface.
4 Archaeological Observation of Community Health Facility Development at Manor Hospital. Observation of the stripping of tarmac from the car park and the cutting of a drain trench, revealed no evidence for the buildings of the outer court of Nuneaton priory, known from earlier evaluation trenches and archaeological observation to have been located to the SE.
5 ,
6 This area was remapped to incoprorate the putative extent of the preinct as recorded in the sources outlined above. The priory was surpressed in 1539 and granted to Sir Marmaduke Constable whose survey on 1543 mentions several houses and tenements within the outer court.
 
Sources
Source No: 1
Source Type: Evaluation Report
Title: Archaeological Evaluation at Manor Hospital, Nuneaton
Author/originator: Palmer S C
Date: 1991
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Report No 0004
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Evaluation Report
Title: Archaeological Evaluation at South Home, Manor Hospital, Nuneaton, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Jones G C
Date: 1994
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Evaluation Report
Title: Archaeological Evaluation at Manor Hospital, Nuneaton
Author/originator: Palmer S C
Date: 1991
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Report No 0004
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Observation Report
Title: Archaeological Observation of Community Health Facility Development at Manor Hospital, Nuneaton, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Jones C
Date: 1995
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Observation Report
Title: Archaeological Observation at South Home, Manor Hospital, Nuneaton, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Jones C
Date: 1994
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Verbal communication
Title: Pers. Comm. Giles Carey
Author/originator: G Carey
Date: 2009-2014
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
technique Trial Trench A small regular hole that is usually square or rectangular in shape. Archaeologists dig trial trenches to discover if there are any archaeological remains at a particular location. See also excavation. 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.
more -> 		back
monument YARD * A paved area, generally found at the back of a house. 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 BUILDING * A structure with a roof to provide shelter from the weather for occupants or contents. Use specific type where known. back
monument INDUSTRIAL BUILDING * Any building designed or adapted to accommodate trades and manufacturing activity. Use more specific site 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 TENEMENT * A parcel of land. 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 HOSPITAL * An establishment providing medical or surgical treatment for the ill or wounded. Use narrower term where possible. back
monument CAR PARK * A place where cars and other road vehicles may be parked and left. 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 MONASTERY * Houses specifically of monks, canons or religious men but not friars. 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