More information : (TL 86422897) St. Mary's Church (NR) (remains of)(NAT) (TL 864289) The Priory on site of (NAT) Priory (NR) (Benedictine Founded AD 1111) (NAT) (1) The Benedictine Priory of St. Mary and St. Andrew (also called St. Mary the Virgin and St. John the Evangelist) founded a little before 1111; dissolved 1536 (6). There was possibly an earlier monastery or college of priests, as a minster is mentioned in the will of Leofgifu circa 1045, probably founded in St. Andrew's Church at Earls Colne (TL860288). The site is now a level meadow divided into two parts by a ha-ha ditch which cuts through the foundations of the presbytery, cloister and chapter house (see map from authority 4). (2-6)
Extant remains consist of the base of the north-west church tower and a single stone from the presbytery. In dry seasons some of the lines of the monastic buildings are visible in the turf on the north side of the present priory (3) (a house of 18th/19th century date, grade 2) (5). In 1929-34 excavations revealed the church, the apsed chapter house, the slype and the dorter (see plan from authority 4). A large amount of Roman debris was found. The present house replaced an earlier one which stood on the western side of the site, to south-west of the monastic church (4). The present house named 'The Priory' is not on the site of the Benedictine Priory. This stood at TL 86452893; site plotted at 1:2500. Apart from this all the previously recorded information is correct except that, the remaining stone of the presbytery has been removed to an unknown location. No more recent information on Roman debris was obtained. Published 1:2500 1966 revised. (7)
Boundary wall to south, east and north east of Colne Priory. (Formerly listed as Boundary Wall at Colne Priory). Wall. Early C15, repaired in late C16 and mid-C17. Grade II* (see list for details). (8) |