Stanley Abbey
Encyclopedia
Stanley Abbey was a medieval abbey
near Chippenham
, Wiltshire
in England
which flourished between 1151 and 1536.
in 1151 to monks from Quarr Abbey
on the Isle of Wight
. Originally at Loxwell, to the east of Chippenham
, it moved to nearby Stanley in 1154. The abbey grew in size throughout the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, reaching a size of 450 acres (1.8 km²) at its largest. Its influence also grew, Abbot Nicholas entertaining King John
in October 1200 and in 1210 Abbot Thomas of Calstone attending the meeting of King John and the Cistercian abbots at York. In 1280 King Edward I
gave stone to the abbey for a chamber to be built for his own use and according to the abbey chronicle he used this chamber in the spring of 1282. Princess Mary, the bishop of Salisbury and Edward II were all reported to have stayed at the abbey during the first years of the fourteenth century.
Its operation finally ceased as a result of the dissolution of the monasteries
. The last abbot was Thomas Calne (also called Morley), and the abbey was dissolved in February 1536. Nothing now remains in situ except a green site on private property, but access may be obtained to visit it from Old Abbey Farm.
, who plundered the materials to build his manor house
at Bromham
. In 1864 the land was sold by John Bayntun Starky to Gabriel Goldney
of Chippenham
.
At various times since, remains such as burial places and a blacksmith
's forge, as well as coins and tiles, have been found.
Harold Brakspear
's 1905 excavation discovered the layout of the monastery, including the church, infirmary and a dovecote
.
Its original entrance now forms the gateway to Spye Park, Wiltshire and is known locally as Spye Arch.
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
near Chippenham
Chippenham
Chippenham may be:* Chippenham, Wiltshire* Chippenham * Chippenham, Cambridgeshire-See also:* Virginia State Route 150, also known as Chippenham Parkway, USA* Cippenham, Berkshire, UK...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
which flourished between 1151 and 1536.
Foundation
The abbey was given by Empress MatildaEmpress Matilda
Empress Matilda , also known as Matilda of England or Maude, was the daughter and heir of King Henry I of England. Matilda and her younger brother, William Adelin, were the only legitimate children of King Henry to survive to adulthood...
in 1151 to monks from Quarr Abbey
Quarr Abbey
Quarr Abbey is a monastery between the villages of Binstead and Fishbourne on the Isle of Wight in southern England. The name is pronounced as "Kor" . It belongs to the Order of St Benedict. The present imposing brick construction was completed in 1912. A community of about a dozen monks maintains...
on the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
. Originally at Loxwell, to the east of Chippenham
Chippenham
Chippenham may be:* Chippenham, Wiltshire* Chippenham * Chippenham, Cambridgeshire-See also:* Virginia State Route 150, also known as Chippenham Parkway, USA* Cippenham, Berkshire, UK...
, it moved to nearby Stanley in 1154. The abbey grew in size throughout the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, reaching a size of 450 acres (1.8 km²) at its largest. Its influence also grew, Abbot Nicholas entertaining King John
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
in October 1200 and in 1210 Abbot Thomas of Calstone attending the meeting of King John and the Cistercian abbots at York. In 1280 King Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
gave stone to the abbey for a chamber to be built for his own use and according to the abbey chronicle he used this chamber in the spring of 1282. Princess Mary, the bishop of Salisbury and Edward II were all reported to have stayed at the abbey during the first years of the fourteenth century.
Its operation finally ceased as a result of the dissolution of the monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
. The last abbot was Thomas Calne (also called Morley), and the abbey was dissolved in February 1536. Nothing now remains in situ except a green site on private property, but access may be obtained to visit it from Old Abbey Farm.
Subsequent history
At the dissolution, the land passed into the possession of Sir Edward BayntonEdward Baynton
Sir Edward Bayntun , of Bromham, Wiltshire, was a gentleman at the court of Henry VIII of England. He was vice-chamberlain to Anne Boleyn, the King's second wife, and was the brother-in-law of Queen Catherine Howard, Henry VIII's fifth wife.-Early life:Sir Edward Bayntun was born at Faulston House...
, who plundered the materials to build his manor house
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
at Bromham
Bromham, Wiltshire
Bromham is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. Besides the main village of Bromham, the parish includes five other settlements: St Edith’s Marsh, Westbrook, Hawkstreet, Netherstreet and Chittoe. These are essentially sub-villages and hamlets all within of the main village centre,...
. In 1864 the land was sold by John Bayntun Starky to Gabriel Goldney
Gabriel Goldney, 1st Baronet
Sir Gabriel Goldney, 1st Baronet of Beechfield, Corsham and Bradenstoke Abbey, both Wiltshire was a Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1865 to 1885...
of Chippenham
Chippenham
Chippenham may be:* Chippenham, Wiltshire* Chippenham * Chippenham, Cambridgeshire-See also:* Virginia State Route 150, also known as Chippenham Parkway, USA* Cippenham, Berkshire, UK...
.
At various times since, remains such as burial places and a blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
's forge, as well as coins and tiles, have been found.
Harold Brakspear
Harold Brakspear
Sir Harold William Brakspear was a noted restoration architect and archaeologist.He restored a number of ancient and notable buildings, including*Bath Abbey*Windsor Castle*Brownston House, Devizes....
's 1905 excavation discovered the layout of the monastery, including the church, infirmary and a dovecote
Dovecote
A dovecote or dovecot is a structure intended to house pigeons or doves. Dovecotes may be square or circular free-standing structures or built into the end of a house or barn. They generally contain pigeonholes for the birds to nest. Pigeons and doves were an important food source historically in...
.
Its original entrance now forms the gateway to Spye Park, Wiltshire and is known locally as Spye Arch.