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Summary

L-shaped fragments of walls in St Eustachius' Churchyard are the remains of the north-west corner of the Abbey cloister and the south wall of the Abbey Church, dating to the thirteenth century.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1020401: Tavistock Abbey
• Listed Building (I) 1162792: REMAINS OF NORTH-WEST CORNER OF ABBEY CLOISTER AND CHURCH WALL IN ST EUSTACHIUS' CHURCHYARD

Other References/Statuses

• Old Listed Building Ref (I): 93400
• Old SAM Ref: 29679

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• WALL (XII to XIV - 1200 AD to 1400 AD (Between))

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1855-1895, First Edition 1:500 Town Map (Cartographic). SDV338879.

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

'Abbey Wall' shown on 19th century map as an L-shaped feature in the southern part of the 'Grave Yard' of St Eustachius's parish church in Tavistock.

Ordnance Survey, 1904 - 1906, Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map (Cartographic). SDV325644.

Devon County Council, 1975, Tavistock Town Walk, 91-2 (Article in Monograph). SDV352474.

Exeter Archaeology, 1997, Archaeological Assessment of Tavistock Sewer Overflows Scheme, 5 (Report - Assessment). SDV344347.

Stead, P. M., 1999, Archaeological Investigations at Tavistock Abbey 1997-1999, Figure 11 (Article in Serial). SDV336200.

Figure 11 shows a conjectural reconstruction of the possible extent of the main ranges of the abbey buildings, based on the 1885 Ordnance Survey 1:500 town plan of Tavistock.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2001, Tavistock Abbey (Schedule Document). SDV344375.

A small part of the south wall of the nave of the Abbey Church at Tavistock and part of the inner wall of the west claustral range survives as Grade I Listed standing masonry remains. From these fragmentary remains and from William of Worcester's measurements of 1478, the abbey church can be estimated to have been 67 metres in length.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2005, Untitled Source (Correspondence). SDV323709.

Scheduled Monument Consent granted, subject to conditions, for proposed work at the Abbey cloister ruins, Churchyard, Tavistock Abbey, concerning the affixing of a 12 inch Heritage building plaque. The plaque is to read 'Abbey Cloisters. The Cloisters of the Benedictine Abbey adjoined the Abbey church, a magnificent building dedicated in 1318. It decayed after the dissolution of the monastery in 1539 and had been demolished by 1700. Only one arch of the cloister has survived'.

Watts, S., 2005, Untitled Source (Personal Comment). SDV323710.

See Tavistock Abbey Church for further information.

West Devon Borough Council, 2009, Tavistock Conservation Area Management Plan, 21, 40 (Report - non-specific). SDV351411.

English Heritage, 2010, Historic Houses Register (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV154869.

Remains of north-west corner of Abbey cloister and church wall in St Eustachius' Churchyard. Thirteenth century. L-shaped fragment of wall including the upper part of a moulded 13th century arch with cusped arcading below. The longer part of wall belonged to the Abbey Church. Excavation in 1914 (now filled in) revealed more of the church walls and some early 14th century floor tiles.

Ordnance Survey, 2010, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV344030.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4597 - Assessment of Tavistock Sewer Overflow Scheme

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