| Summary : An 18th century house stands on the site of the 12th century Cistercian abbey of St Mary. The abbey was founded in 1147 and Dissolved in 1538. Ruins of the church and abbey house were still visible in 1712, but the construction of Biddlesden House resulted in the destruction of the ruins. When Browne Willis visited the site in 1712, he reported that visible ruins included the East side of the cloister, part of the tower, a small chapel, and the chapter house, which was 40 feet square and supported on four pillars. The conventual church was also the parish church during the lifetime of the abbey. It was dismantled by Sir Robert Peckham in 1569, with the exception of a small chantry chapel, the Chapel of St Margaret, on the South side of the church. Following the demolition of the church, the parishioners used a small chapel near the abbey gate for worship. When Browne Willis revisited the site in circa 1737, the owner of Biddlesden House, Mr Sayer, had demolished and levelled almost all of the remaining ruins. It was so thoroughly levelled that no trace nor outline of the abbey remained visible. Willis stated that `diggings' had revealed several thousand human bones, which were thrown away. Sayer had also, in 1730, set aside a wing of the house for the parishioners to use for worship, but this had not, at that time, been consecrated. It has since, and is now the main church of the parish. |