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Summary

Late 17th and early 18th century documents refer to a house called the Saxon School, with a courtyard, great rooms, and vaults and cellars beneath it, adjoining the churchyard.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1020401: Tavistock Abbey

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX47SE/57

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• HOUSE (Early Medieval to XVII - 1066 AD (Pre) to 1700 AD (Pre))

Full description

Radford, G. H., 1914, Tavistock Abbey, 150-3 (Article in Serial). SDV136050.

In a late 17th century lease the Saxon School is described as 'a house with a large courtyard formerly a garden towards the front' with a 'house or great room' at the east and west ends, and vaults and cellars beneath it. From an early 18th century lease it is evident that these premises adjoined the churchyard. The ' house or great room' at the east end was probably the Chapter House, that at the west end perhaps the kitchen. The part known as the Dungeon in the 1691 lease was the abbey gatehouse (formerly the Great Gate of the abbey) now standing in the vicarage garden under the name of Betsy Grimbal's Tower. The house was rebuilt in 1729 by Jacob Saunders. The Chapter House was torn down to make way for the new house, called The Abbey House.

Mettler, A.E., 2010, Field Book to the Plan of Tavistock: 1751 and 1752, 30 (Monograph). SDV350389.

F21 is described as including 'The Great House and Stable called the Saxon School.

Ordnance Survey, 2012, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV348725.

Map object based on this source.

English Heritage, 2012, National Heritage List for England (National Heritage List for England). SDV348729.

The east end of the Bedford Hotel (Listed Grade II) was built circa 1725 on the site of the monastic buildings south of the cloisters of Tavistock Abbey, as a dwellinghouse by Jacob Saunders.

The Tavistock Wynne Map Heritage Project, 2012, Tavistock 1752, F21 (Website). SDV350360.

Map object based on this source.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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