Information for record number MWA137:
Merevale Abbey

Summary The remains of the Cistercian Abbey of Merevale, founded in the Medieval period. Little remains of the building. The site is located 150m north of the church at Merevale.
What Is It?  
Type: Monastery, Cistercian Monastery
Period: Medieval (1066 AD - 1539 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Merevale
District: North Warwickshire, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: 00
(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: II)
Sites & Monuments Record
Picture(s) attached

 
Description

 
Source Number  

1 Cistercian abbey of Merevale, colonised from Bordesley, founded in 1148 by Robert Earl Ferrers and endowed with lands in Arden Forest and elsewhere. Some of the history of the abbey survives. The abbey was dissolved in 1538.
2 The remains of the abbey consist of the parish church, other remains of the abbey, abbey Pool and Black Pool. Apart from the parish church, which was the Chapel of Our Lady at the Gate, there are few relics of the abbey.
3 In the early 17th century the register of the abbey was in the hands of Richard Chamberlain, but it has since been lost. The buildings of the abbey have subsequently been robbed of stone and little remains. Excavations of some of the abbey buildings were undertaken in 1849. Bloxam produced a tentative reconstruction of the abbey buildings based on the excavated evidence.
4 Plan of 1904
5 Further 'trial Excavations' were conducted when a barn was built on the site in 1967.
6 Originally Scheduled as Warwickshire Monument No 135.
7 After the Dissolution the estate was passed to Sir Walter Deveraux and later to the Earl of Essex in 1579. The conventual buildings were originally surrounded by water on three sides.
8 Photographs from the 1967 Excavation.
9 Notes from the 1976 Excavation. <10, 11, 12> Archival material.
13 Archival correspondence about a proposal for silage pits.
14 Archival material.
15 Archival material relating to proposed works at the abbey.
16 Letter from English Heritage encouraging the Merevale Estate Agent to apply for grant aid for conservation.
 
Sources

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: 2
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 4, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Salzman L F (ed)
Date: 1947
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 4
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: LAS
Author/originator: Bloxam M H
Date: 1904
Page Number: 331
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 11
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Merevale Hall
Author/originator: Ken Jenks, Asst. Curator, Museum and Art Gallery, Nuneaton
Date: 1977
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 12
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Abbey Farm, Merevale
Author/originator: Miss S. Williams, WM
Date: 1977
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 13
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Silage pits at Merevale Abbey
Author/originator: WM, EH, Mereval Abbey Estate
Date: 1988
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 14
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Merevale Abbey
Author/originator: J.D.Austin
Date: 1991
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 15
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Proposed works at Merevale Abbey
Author/originator: D. Moir, WM
Date: 1995
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 16
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Merevale Abbey
Author/originator: S.Cole, EH
Date: 1998
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 10
Source Type: Drawing
Title: Merevale Abbey
Author/originator:
Date: undated
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 9
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: Merevale
Author/originator: S.C. Clarke
Date: 1967
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Photograph
Title: Merevale Abbey
Author/originator:
Date: 1967
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Plan
Title: LAS
Author/originator: Bloxam M H
Date: 1904
Page Number: opp.p324
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: SAM List 1986
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1986
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: Mereval Abbey
Author/originator: DoE
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: AM7
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: SAM Description
Author/originator: English Heritage
Date: 1996
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 21578
   
Images:  
Merevale Abbey, Merevale, North Warwickshire
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 1977
Click here for larger image  
 
A view of the ruins of Merevale Abbey
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 1900s
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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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 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
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 POOL * A small body of water, either natural or artificial. 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 STONE * Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function. back
monument PARISH CHURCH * The foremost church within a parish. 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 PIT * A hole or cavity in the ground, either natural or the result of excavation. Use more specific type where known. back
monument CISTERCIAN MONASTERY * An abbey or priory of Cistercian monks. 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 BARN * A building for the storage and processing of grain crops and for housing straw, farm equipment and occasionally livestock and their fodder. Use more specific type where known. back
monument MONASTERY * Houses specifically of monks, canons or religious men but not friars. back
monument GATE * A movable stucture which enables or prevents entrance to be gained. Usually situated in a wall or similar barrier and supported by gate posts. back
monument FARM * A tract of land, often including a farmhouse and ancillary buildings, used for the purpose of cultivation and the rearing of livestock, etc. Use more specific type where known. back
monument FOREST * A large tract of land covered with trees and interspersed with open areas of land. Traditionally forests were owned by the monarchy and had their own laws. 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