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Faversham Abbey: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 51°19′00″N 0°53′45″E / 51.31667°N 0.89583°E / 51.31667; 0.89583
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{{Short description|Former Cluniac monastery in England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}
[[File:Ruins Of Faversham Abbey, Stukeley, 1722.jpg|thumb|right|The ruins of Faversham Abbey in 1722.]]
[[File:Ruins Of Faversham Abbey, Stukeley, 1722.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|right|The ruins of Faversham Abbey in 1722.]]
'''Faversham Abbey''' was a [[Cluniac]] style [[monastery]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06019c.htm|title=Faversham Abbey|work=[[Catholic Encyclopedia]] |accessdate=2007-02-18}}</ref> immediately to the north-east of the town of [[Faversham]], in [[Kent]], England.
'''Faversham Abbey''' was a [[Cluniac]] style [[monastery]]<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06019c.htm|title=Faversham Abbey|encyclopedia=[[Catholic Encyclopedia]] |access-date=2007-02-18}}</ref> immediately to the north-east of the town of [[Faversham]], in north [[Kent]], England.


== History ==
It was founded by [[Stephen of England|King Stephen]] and his wife [[Matilda of Boulogne]] in 1148.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.faversham.org/pages/standard.aspx?i_PageID=15842|title=Faversham Abbey|work=Faversham.org|access-date=2007-02-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616030544/http://www.faversham.org/pages/standard.aspx?i_PageID=15842|archive-date=16 June 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> A party of monks from [[Bermondsey Abbey]] provided the nucleus and the first abbot.
It was founded by [[Stephen of England|King Stephen]] and his wife [[Matilda of Boulogne]] in 1148.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.faversham.org/pages/standard.aspx?i_PageID=15842|title=Faversham Abbey|work=Faversham.org|access-date=2007-02-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616030544/http://www.faversham.org/pages/standard.aspx?i_PageID=15842|archive-date=16 June 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> A party of monks from [[Bermondsey Abbey]] provided the nucleus and the first abbot.


At the [[Dissolution of the Monasteries]], Sir [[Thomas Cheney]] assigned the abbey to [[Thomas Arden]] and it was considerably destroyed in 1538. Thereafter the site of the abbey came into the possession of the [[Sondes family]]<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ynAzAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA571&dq#v=onepage&q&f=false |title = Monasticon Anglicanum: A History of the Abbies and Other Monasteries, Hospitals, Frieries, and Cathedral and Collegiate Churches, with Their Dependencies, in England and Wales; Also of All Such Scotch, Irish and French Monasteries, as Were in Manner Connected with Religious Houses in England|last1 = Dugdale|first1 = Sir William|year = 1846}}</ref> and now lies within the grounds of [[Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Faversham|Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School]].
At the [[Dissolution of the Monasteries]], Sir [[Thomas Cheney]] assigned the abbey to [[Thomas Arden]] and it was considerably destroyed in 1538. Thereafter the site of the abbey came into the possession of the [[Sondes family]]<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ynAzAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA571 |title = Monasticon Anglicanum: A History of the Abbies and Other Monasteries, Hospitals, Frieries, and Cathedral and Collegiate Churches, with Their Dependencies, in England and Wales; Also of All Such Scotch, Irish and French Monasteries, as Were in Manner Connected with Religious Houses in England|last1 = Dugdale|first1 = Sir William|year = 1846}}</ref> and now lies within the grounds of [[Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Faversham|Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School]].


The Abbey was the burial place of King Stephen, Queen Matilda, and their eldest son, [[Eustace IV of Boulogne]]. Their bones were reportedly thrown into the nearby Faversham Creek when the abbey was demolished. Their empty tombs were unearthed in 1964 near what had been the centre of the choir. However, there is a canopy tomb with no contemporary inscription in the nearby [[Faversham Parish Church|Parish Church]], where it is said that their bones were re-interred.
The Abbey was the burial place of King Stephen, Queen Matilda, and their eldest son, [[Eustace IV of Boulogne]]. Their bones were reportedly thrown into the nearby Faversham Creek when the abbey was demolished. Their empty tombs were unearthed in 1964 near what had been the centre of the choir. However, there is a canopy tomb with no contemporary inscription in the nearby [[Faversham Parish Church|Parish Church]], where it is said that their bones were re-interred.


The Abbey was excavated in 1965 by a team led by the archaeologist Brian Philp<ref>Excavations at Faversham, Brian Philps, copy held in Faversham reference library</ref>. A full plan of the abbey was produced. At around 360ft in length (110 metres), the abbey was shorter than Canterbury cathedral, but longer than Rochester cathedral. The cloister and monastic buildings were built on the northern side.
The Abbey was excavated in 1965 by a team led by the archaeologist Brian Philp.<ref>Excavations at Faversham, Brian Philps, copy held in Faversham reference library</ref> A full plan of the abbey was produced. At around {{convert|360|ft|abbr=on}} in length, the abbey was shorter than [[Canterbury Cathedral]], but longer than [[Rochester Cathedral]]. The cloister and monastic buildings were built on the northern side.


[[File:Faversham Abbey Plan 1965.jpg|thumb|centre|Faversham Abbey Plan from the 1965 excavation]]
[[File:Faversham Abbey Plan 1965.jpg|thumb|centre|Faversham Abbey Plan from the 1965 excavation]]
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The abbey was built from a mix of chalk, flint, ragstone, greensand, and Caen stone. The roofing material appears to have been slate from south Devon with matches to materials obtained from sites near Modbury and Slapton Sands.
The abbey was built from a mix of chalk, flint, ragstone, greensand, and Caen stone. The roofing material appears to have been slate from south Devon with matches to materials obtained from sites near Modbury and Slapton Sands.


== Archaeology ==
In May, 2019 Kent Archaeological Field School uncovered {{convert|150|ft|abbr=on}} long by {{convert|50|ft|abbr=on}} wide Roman building at Abbey Farm. According to the Dr Paul Wilkinson, the building contained broken stone walls. The walls covered huge amounts of box flue tiles, which were used to direct hot air up the indoor walls, glazed [[terracotta]] floors, an untouched underfloor with [[hypocaust]] heating and tons of ceramic roof tiles. Although the plaster painted from these walls were mostly white, plaster walls coloured with green, red and yellow panels were found in the hot sauna room on the north side of the building. The building was divided into two zones of activity – a bath house and a room for agricultural activity.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Large Roman building uncovered at Abbey Farm in Faversham|url=https://archaeonewsnet.com/large-roman-building-uncovered-at-abbey/|access-date=2024-06-18|website=Archaeology News Network}}</ref>

==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>
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[[Category:Monasteries in Kent]]
[[Category:Monasteries in Kent]]
[[Category:Benedictine monasteries in England]]
[[Category:Benedictine monasteries in England]]
[[Category:1147 establishments in England]]
[[Category:1148 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Religious organizations established in the 1140s]]
[[Category:Grade I listed buildings in Kent]]
[[Category:Grade I listed buildings in Kent]]
[[Category:Christian monasteries established in the 12th century]]
[[Category:Christian monasteries established in the 1140s]]
[[Category:1538 disestablishments in England]]
[[Category:1538 disestablishments in England]]
[[Category:Burial sites of European royal families]]
[[Category:Burial sites of English royal houses]]
[[Category:Faversham]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Faversham]]
[[Category:Stephen, King of England]]
[[Category:Stephen, King of England]]
[[Category:Monasteries dissolved under the English Reformation]]

[[Category:Roman sites in Kent]]

{{Kent-struct-stub}}

Latest revision as of 22:14, 27 November 2024

The ruins of Faversham Abbey in 1722.

Faversham Abbey was a Cluniac style monastery[1] immediately to the north-east of the town of Faversham, in north Kent, England.

History

[edit]

It was founded by King Stephen and his wife Matilda of Boulogne in 1148.[2] A party of monks from Bermondsey Abbey provided the nucleus and the first abbot.

At the Dissolution of the Monasteries, Sir Thomas Cheney assigned the abbey to Thomas Arden and it was considerably destroyed in 1538. Thereafter the site of the abbey came into the possession of the Sondes family[3] and now lies within the grounds of Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School.

The Abbey was the burial place of King Stephen, Queen Matilda, and their eldest son, Eustace IV of Boulogne. Their bones were reportedly thrown into the nearby Faversham Creek when the abbey was demolished. Their empty tombs were unearthed in 1964 near what had been the centre of the choir. However, there is a canopy tomb with no contemporary inscription in the nearby Parish Church, where it is said that their bones were re-interred.

The Abbey was excavated in 1965 by a team led by the archaeologist Brian Philp.[4] A full plan of the abbey was produced. At around 360 ft (110 m) in length, the abbey was shorter than Canterbury Cathedral, but longer than Rochester Cathedral. The cloister and monastic buildings were built on the northern side.

Faversham Abbey Plan from the 1965 excavation

The abbey was built from a mix of chalk, flint, ragstone, greensand, and Caen stone. The roofing material appears to have been slate from south Devon with matches to materials obtained from sites near Modbury and Slapton Sands.

Archaeology

[edit]

In May, 2019 Kent Archaeological Field School uncovered 150 ft (46 m) long by 50 ft (15 m) wide Roman building at Abbey Farm. According to the Dr Paul Wilkinson, the building contained broken stone walls. The walls covered huge amounts of box flue tiles, which were used to direct hot air up the indoor walls, glazed terracotta floors, an untouched underfloor with hypocaust heating and tons of ceramic roof tiles. Although the plaster painted from these walls were mostly white, plaster walls coloured with green, red and yellow panels were found in the hot sauna room on the north side of the building. The building was divided into two zones of activity – a bath house and a room for agricultural activity.[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Faversham Abbey". Catholic Encyclopedia. Retrieved 18 February 2007.
  2. ^ "Faversham Abbey". Faversham.org. Archived from the original on 16 June 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2007.
  3. ^ Dugdale, Sir William (1846). "Monasticon Anglicanum: A History of the Abbies and Other Monasteries, Hospitals, Frieries, and Cathedral and Collegiate Churches, with Their Dependencies, in England and Wales; Also of All Such Scotch, Irish and French Monasteries, as Were in Manner Connected with Religious Houses in England".
  4. ^ Excavations at Faversham, Brian Philps, copy held in Faversham reference library
  5. ^ "Large Roman building uncovered at Abbey Farm in Faversham". Archaeology News Network. Retrieved 18 June 2024.

51°19′00″N 0°53′45″E / 51.31667°N 0.89583°E / 51.31667; 0.89583