Summary : The site of the now ruined Bury St Edmunds Abbey has been in religious use since around 633 when King Sigebert, first Christian king of the East Angles, established a religious community here. In 903 the remains of King Edmund were interred here, 33 years after he was martyred by the Danes. In 1020 King Canute replaced the community of secular priests with 20 Benedictine monks which was increased by a further sixty by William the Conqueror, who also increased the monastery's privileges. In 1095 St Edmund's remains were re-interred, this time in a stone church which replaced an earlier, timber church. The first half of the 12th century saw the construction of the cloister, chapter house, refectory, dormitory, infirmary, and, walls to the forecourt. In around 1150 fire caused damage to all of these except the cloister, and they were subsequently rebuilt. In the second half of the 12th century the church continued to be extended and the abbot's and guest houses were rebuilt. The 14th century was eventful resulting from disputes between the monks and townspeople and culminated in a riot in 1327. Fire caused great damage in 1465 to the church and refectory, and they were subsequently repaired.In 1540 Henry VIII dissolved the abbey, which was considered to be of considerable value. Sold to John Eyer and then Thomas Badyby, all valuable materials were stripped of the abbey buildings, with the exception of the abbot's palace, which survived as a house until 1720. Between the 17th and early 19th centuries houses were built into the west front of the abbey church, some of which still survive.Today, the remains comprise the church, crypt, crossing, transepts and east bays of the nave. Around the cloister, fragments of the parlour, refectory, chapter house, treasury, warming room and night stair can be recognised. North east of the refectory, remains of the Queen's Chamber, abbot's chapel and larder can be seen. The site is under the guardianship of English Heritage. |
More information : (TL 857643) St Edmunds Abbey (NR) (Benedictine Founded AD 1020) (NAT) (1)
For details see pamphlet. (2)
Excavation within dorter range revealed cellars. (3)
Anglo-Saxon moulded stones and relief tiles found during clearance in 1950's. (4)
Examination of the West wall of the church for evidence of reconstruction during the 12th century. (5)
Ruins of the Abbey Church of St Edmund, excluding the West Front (qv), which is included separately. C11 and C12. In flint rubble, with the remains of stone dressings.
EXTERIOR: the church was 505 feet long. The nave, extended into 12 bays under Abbot Anselm (1121-1148), was arcaded on both sides: little now remains but the rubble bases of several of the columns. More complete are the 2 large transepts which had eastern aisles and 2 apsidal chapels on each side, one on the north replaced by a Lady Chapel in 1275. Parts of the high crossing arches supporting the central tower are today the tallest parts of the ruins. The crossing tower, begun just after 1100, was completed by Abbot Anselm, but damaged later and rebuilt in stages from 1361. Beyond the site of the High Altar the ground drops sharply: the 5-bay chancel is missing but the crypt below it, which is the oldest surviving part of the Abbey, built under Abbot Baldwin soon after 1066, is clearly laid out: the outer walls rise above the level of the former window sills and the bases of most of the columns along the line of the ambulatory remain. The form is apsidal, with 3 chapels at the east end, the 2 to each side of the apse semicircular. The plan of the chancel itself was similar, with an ambulatory and 3 radiating chapels at the east end. Grade I.
Remains of the Chapter House to the north of the north transept with the apsidal Treasury and the Warming House further north. To the east, remains of a complex group of buildings, including the Prior's house, the Infirmary and Bradfield Hall. C12. In rubble flint with slight remains of ashlar facing. Most of the buildings in this area are now reduced to low rubble flint walls; in the Treasury the bases of 4 small columns, 2 on each side, on a continuous plinth. Grade I.
Remains of the Refectory, with the Kitchen and Cellarer's range to the north of it, and of the larder and wardrobe below the Queen's Chamber to the north of the former Dorter. Flint with stone fragments. C12. 3 of the Refectory walls are in coursed flint and stand approx 3 metres high; in the east and west walls are blocked pointed arched doorways of Barnack stone. The lower part of the Queen's Chamber building is themost complete of the whole complex, with all 4 walls standing. This building formed part of the range which included the Abbot's Palace. Grade I.
The surviving part of the south wall of the Great Court of the Abbey with the remains of the Hall of Pleas on its south side. Late C12 with C13 additions. In rubble and coursed flint with dressings of Barnack stone. The crenellated wall, which stands to full height and is 66 metres long, now forms in part the garden wall on the south side of Abbey House. Grade I.
Remains of Abbey dovecote with an associated short stretch of wall. C12 with later alterations. In coursed flint with stone quoins and dressings. Grade I.
The great gate of the Abbey of St Edmund. Begun after the riots of 1327 but before 1346; completed after 1353. Barnack stone. 2 storeys and battlements. The west facade is richly decorated. Grade I. (6)
Additional references. (7-9)
Today, the remains comprise the church, crypt, crossing, transepts and east bays of the nave. Around the cloister, fragments of the parlour, refectory, chapter house, treasury, warming room and night stair can be recognised. North east of the refectory, remains of the Queen's Chamber, abbot's chapel and larder can be seen. For full details see schedule monument description. (10)
The site of the now ruined Bury St Edmunds Abbey has been in religious use since around 633 when King Sigebert, first Christian king of the East Angles, established a religious community here. In 903 the remains of King Edmund were interred here, 33 years after he was martyred by the Danes. In 1020 King Canute replaced the community of secular priests with 20 Benedictine monks which was increased by a further sixty by William the Conqueror, who also increased the monastery's privileges. In 1095 St Edmund's remains were re-interred, this time in a stone church which replaced an earlier, timber church. The first half of the 12th century saw the construction of the cloister, chapter house, refectory, dormitory, infirmary, and, walls to the forecourt. In around 1150 fire caused damage to all of these except the cloister, and they were subsequently rebuilt 1150-1156. In the second half of the 12th century the church continued to be extended and the abbot's and guest houses were rebuilt. The 14th century was eventful resulting from disputes between the monks and townspeople and culminated in a riot in 1327. Fire caused great damage in 1465 to the church and refectory, and they were subsequently repaired between 1465 and 1506.
In 1540 Henry VIII dissolved the abbey, which was considered to be of considerable value. Sold to John Eyer and then Thomas Badyby, all valuable materials were stripped of the abbey buildings, with the exception of the abbot's palace, which survived as a house until 1720. Between the 17th and early 19th centuries houses were built into the west front of the abbey church, some of which still survive. (11)
This site is listed in the English Heritage Visitor Handbook for 2009/10. (12)
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