Evesham Abbey

Has been described as a Certain Fortified Ecclesiastical site

There are masonry footings remains

NameEvesham Abbey
Alternative NamesEovesham
Historic CountryWorcestershire
Modern AuthorityWorcestershire
1974 AuthorityHereford and Worcester
Civil ParishEvesham

The early history of the abbey is involved and uncertain. From its foundation in 701 AD it alternated from a monastic to a collegiate foundation, finally becoming monastic in 989 and lasting until its dissolution in 1539. It seems clear that the Abbey church and its surrounding buildings were destroyed within a few years of the Dissolution. The only parts of the church now to be seen in position are a piece of the west wall of the north transept and the bases of several piers adjacent to it. A number of abbey outbuildings survive, including Abbot Reginalds gateway, (Norman), C16 Belltower, C14 stables, C15 almonry, late C13 chapter-house and C14 gateway. The only remains of the church are a fragment of C12-C13 North transept. (PastScape)

Nos 53 and 54 incorporating Remains of Abbey Gate (Abbey Gate House). Grade I. 1711. Fine L-shaped house which incorporates the remains of the early C14 Abbey Gate, or Great Gate, built by Abbot Chyryton. House of stone and rubble; 2 storeys; 5 sash windows; 2 later C18 doorways with fanlights, 3/4 fluted Doric columns and cornices; wood modillion eaves cornice; hipped tile roof. Good moulded lead rainwater head on east side (of No 54), which is largely of medieval origin and has numerous blocked openings including large semi-circular arches, that at rear of No 53 being part of Abbey Gate and incorporating one original jamb. Interior: No 54 largely altered, but No 53 has late C17 staircase and panelling. Bay on right-hand side projecting towards Merstow Green has a modern upper storey built above the gateway passage with an archway on north return side. To south of this bay, adjoining the Abbey Stables (qv) is the remains of a vaulted passage of early C14. (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

Granted licence to crenellate, in 1332 and 1336. The licence of 1332 was for a house beyond the gate of the abbey; the licence of 1336 was for a chapel and other houses adjacent to this house and for the abbey itself. A 'heritage audit' in 2003 suggested that the C18 house called' Abbey Gate' does incorporate the remains of the C14 abbey gatehouse and this is the right date to be the buildings associated with the 1322 licence.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

This is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law

Historic England Scheduled Monument Number
Historic England Listed Building number(s)
Images Of England
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSP037436
Latitude52.0911483764648
Longitude-1.94878995418549
Eastings403740
Northings243630
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Knowles, David and Hadcock, R. Neville, 1971, Medieval religious houses in England and Wales (Longman) p65, 258, 472
  • Page, Wm and Willis-Bund, J.W. (eds), 1906, VCH Worcestershire Vol. 2 p. 112-27 online transcription
  • Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol. 3 Part 2 p. 252, 411 online copy
  • Grose, Francis, 1785 (new edn orig 1756), Antiquities of England and Wales (London) Vol. 6 p. 45-8 online copy

Antiquarian

  • Chandler, John, 1993, John Leland's Itinerary: travels in Tudor England  (Sutton Publishing) p. 507-8
  • Toulmin-Smith, Lucy (ed), 1908, The itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535-1543 (London: Bell and Sons) Vol. 2 p. 52-3 online copy

Journals

  • Bradley, J and Gaimster, M. (eds), 2004, 'Medieval Britain and Ireland in 2003' Medieval Archaeology Vol. 48 p. 272 download copy
  • Coulson, C., 1982, 'Hierarchism in Conventual Crenellation: An Essay in the Sociology and Metaphysics of Medieval Fortification' Medieval Archaeology Vol. 26 p. 69-100 see online copy

Primary Sources

  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1893, Calendar of Patent Rolls Edward III (1330-34) Vol. 2 p. 283 online copy
  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1895, Calendar of Patent Rolls Edward III (1334-38) Vol. 3 p. 230 online copy
  • Marcay, W.D. (ed.), 1863, Chronicon abbatiae de Evesham adannum 1418 (London: Longman Rolls series 29) online copy

Other

  • Historic England, 2016, Heritage at Risk West Midlands Register 2016 (London: Historic England) p. 71, 73 online copy
  • Historic England, 2015, Heritage at Risk West Midlands Register 2015 (London: Historic England) p. 76 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2014, Heritage at Risk Register 2014 West Midlands (London: English Heritage) p. 70, 73 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2013, Heritage at Risk Register 2013 West Midlands (London: English Heritage) p. 69, 70 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2012, Heritage at Risk Register 2012 West Midlands (London: English Heritage) p. 78, 79 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2011, Heritage at Risk Register 2011 West Midlands (London: English Heritage) p. 75, 76 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2010, Heritage at Risk Register 2010 West Midlands (London: English Heritage) p. 74 online copy
  • English Heritage, 2009, Heritage at Risk Register 2009 West Midlands (London: English Heritage) p. 80, 81 online copy
  • Dalwood, H. and Bryant, V. (eds), 2005, The Central Marches Historic Towns Survey 1992-6 Download online copy