Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Leicester Abbey
Hob Uid: 1051690
Location : City of Leicester Non Civil Parish
Grid Ref : SK5839005900
Summary : Augustinian Abbey of St Mary de Pre (or Pratis), founded 1143 by Robert le Bossu and suppressed in 1538. It was one of the biggest houses of this order in England. Excavations have located the layout of the abbey which is now visible as reconstructed foundations. Dependencies: Cockerham Priory and the secular college of St Mary De Castro, Leicester.
More information : [SK 5839 0590] Abbot Penny's Wall (NR) Leicester Abbey (Remains of) (NR) (1) The Abbey of St Mary of the Meadows (de Pratis) or Leicester Abbey was founded in 1143 by Robert le Bossu, the second Earl of Leicester, for Canons Regular of the Order of St Augustine. Abbot Bourchier surrendered the house on the 28th August 1538. Nothing exists of the original conventual buildings except certain portions of masonry now incorporated in the reconstructed foundations of the main buildings which are based partly on the excavated remains, partly upon analogy and evidence of a contemporary survey 1538-1539. Much of the wall surrounding the site appears to be original including the stone wall on the north-east and east, and what was possibly a cell or small separate lodging in the south-east corner, and the brick wall along Abbey Lane built by Abbot Penny at the end of the fifteenth century. Various tiles, jettons and miscellaneous finds unearthed during excavations at different times are in the City Museum. (2) ABBEY PARK Abbey Ruins Founded in 1143 for Augustinian Canons. Was one of the largest of this order in England. Only the foundation of the building remain laid out on lawns in Abbey Park. Grade I. Abbot Penny's Wall Circa 1500. Stone rubble walls. the west wall along Abbey lane heightened C17/C18th in red brick, with ramp coping of engineering bricks above. Grade II. (3) The site of Leicester Abbey now falls within a public park. No remains of the conventual buildings can be identified in situ but reconstructed foundation lines are complete within themselves. The perimeter wall survives almost completely and stands to a maximum height of 3.4m. - restoration is very evident. See photographs and annotated 1:1250 plan. (4)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : OS 6" 1927-38
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Source Number : 2
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Source details : Levi Fox. 1949. Leicester Abbey - booklet
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Source Number : 3
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Source details : City of Leicester, 14 March 1975
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Source Number : 4
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Source details : F1 FDC 01-MAY-1972
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Source Number : 5
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Source details : Leicestershire
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Vol(s) : Part 26

Source Number : 6
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Page(s) : 163
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Extant
Monument End Date : 1538
Monument Start Date : 1143
Monument Type : Augustinian Monastery, Abbey, Precinct Wall
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit, Ruined Building, Structure

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Listed Building List Entry Legacy Uid
External Cross Reference Number : 188560
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Leicestershire)
External Cross Reference Number : 50NE BG
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SK 50 NE 3
External Cross Reference Notes :

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