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Summary

The dormitory block of Reading Abbey comprised of at least three floors (two levels are visible in the standing remains) and was partly terraced into the natural slope.

Monument Type(s):

• FLOOR (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• WALL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• DORMITORY (Medieval - 1121 AD to 1539 AD)

Description

During archaeological works in 2004-2005 a possible medieval mortar floor, probably that of a cellar or undercroft was recorded approximately 2.25m below the present ground level in the Dormitory. This indicated that the Dormitory building comprised of at least three floors (two levels are visible in the standing remains) and was partly terraced into the natural slope. Short lengths of wall or wall foundations were encountered in two deep trenches. These walls were recorded on the "Modern plan of the Abbey" (Slade 2001). These walls have been preserved in situ. A short length of chalk, flint and mortar wall footing, 0.65m wide was recorded continuing eastwards from the southern wall of the Chapter House. Other works within the Dormitory area showed that most of the buried archaeological remains have been badly disturbed or completely destroyed by two large air-raid shelters which were presumably constructed in the 1940's. <1>.

<1> Wessex Archaeology, 2005, Forbury Gardens Restoration Project, Reading, Berkshire - Archaeological Investigations, Page 7, P14 (Unpublished document). SRM13028.

<2> Wessex Archaeology, 2005, Forbury Gardens Restoration Project, Reading, Berkshire - Archaeological Building Recording (Unpublished document). SRM13027.

<3> Cram, Leslie, 1988, Reading Abbey (Bibliographic reference). SRD12631.

<4> Kemp B R, 1968, Reading Abbey: An Introduction to the History of the Abbey (Bibliographic reference). SRD6872.

<5> Hurry, J B, 1901, Reading Abbey (Bibliographic reference). SRD6886.

<6> Slade, Cecil, 2001, The Town of Reading and its Abbey 1121-1997, Page 3 (Bibliographic reference). SRM13070.

<7> GSB Prospection Ltd, 2001, Geophysical Survey Report 2001/30 St Mary's Abbey, Forbury Gardens, Reading (Unpublished document). SRM14297.

Sources

Designations

• Scheduled Monument 1007932: Reading Abbey: a Cluniac and Benedictine monastery and Civil War earthwork.

Associated Events:

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds:

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.