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Monument details

HER Number:TQ 65 NE 352
Type of record:Listed Building
Name:ST MARYS ABBEY CONVENT BUILDING

Summary

Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1300 to 1999. Benedictine Nunnery founded circa 1090 dissolved 1538, possibly on the site of a nunnery founded 688. Precinct wall, 11th century aiseless church, 14th century gatehouse and chapel remain. An 18th century house incorporates part of the cloister. Owned by the Benedictine Sisterhood.


Grid Reference:TQ 68271 57666
Map Sheet:TQ65NE
Parish:WEST MALLING, TONBRIDGE AND MALLING, KENT

Monument Types

  • NUNNERY (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 688 AD to 1065 AD)
  • BARN (Medieval - 1090 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BENEDICTINE NUNNERY (Medieval - 1090 AD to 1539 AD)
  • CHAPEL (Medieval - 1090 AD to 1539 AD)
  • CHAPTER HOUSE (Medieval - 1090 AD to 1539 AD)
  • CHURCH (Medieval - 1090 AD to 1539 AD)
  • GATEHOUSE (Medieval to Modern - 1090 AD to 2050 AD)
  • INHUMATION CEMETERY (Medieval - 1090 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SITE (Medieval to Modern - 1300 AD to 1999 AD)
  • BARN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • CHAPEL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • HOUSE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1700 AD to 2050 AD)
Protected Status:Listed Building (I) 1209132: ST MARYS ABBEY CONVENT BUILDING; Scheduled Monument KENT 84

Full description

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The following text is from the original listed building designation:
WEST MALLING
TQ6857 SWAN STREET 1156-0/3/161 St Mary's Abbey: Convent building 25/08/59 (Formerly Listed as: SWAN STREET St Marry's Abbey)
GV I
Convent. C14 south side of abbey cloister with house erected by Isaac Honeywood by 1735 reusing stone from the ruined abbey and salvaging window surrounds on the site of an earlier timber-framed post-Reformation house shown in a print by Stukeley of 1724 and with early C19 alterations and C20 additions and alterations, when it reverted to a religious house. Built of stone rubble with tiled roof and 4 stone chimneystacks. 2 storeys and attics 7 windows. H-shaped. North front has ground floor C14 cloisters with 17 trefoliated-headed arches. End bays project having gable ends with wooden fretted bargeboards. Attic has lancet with leaded light. 1st floor has 6 double cinquefoil-headed lights but 2 single ones to the centre flanking a wheel window with carved spandrels. Ground floor now has a later C20 lean-to verandah in stone with pantiled roof not of special interest. The south front is of ashlar. It has 2 end projecting gables with bargeboards and the central section has 5 gabled dormers. Parapet and cornice to centre. Windows are mainly 2-light cinquefoil-headed windows but are 3-light to the lst floor of the end bays and central 1st floor window is a rose window. Ground floor end bays have C18 Geometrical traceried windows. Central arched doorcase of Gothick type with pilasters and circular fanlight. Interior has staircase hall with Gothick cornice, 2 C18 4-centred arched doorcases and wooden Gothick balustrading which is probably C19. Rest of interior not seen. C20 extension to east by Sir Charles Nicholson 1935 not of special interest. (Buildings of England: Newman J: West Kent and the Weald: 578). Listing NGR: TQ6829257677 (1)

Description from record TQ 65 NE 9 :
[Area centred TQ 68205762] Remains of St. Mary's Abbey [NR] (Benedictine Nuns A.D. 1090). (NAT) (2) Ecclesiastical History: Gundulf, Bp. of Rochester, 1077-1108, founded this monastery, towards the end of the 12th century, not much earlier than a confirmation charter of 1099 or 1100. In 1190, the monastery and nearly all the town were consumed by fire. There are a number of charters of confirmation, records of visitations and other accounts of the convent until its surrender in 1538. It was then granted to the Archbishop of Canterbury.(3) The nunnery is stated to have been founded at Malling at 688. The land was in the possession of the Bp. of Rochester in 945 but was lost to the church during the period of Danish anarchy and was recovered by Lanfranc in 1076. The foundation date of the Abbey is usually given as 1090 and the dedication and installation of the first abbess was in 1106. [Authy then details history as Authy 2]. (4) The Benedictine Nunnery at Malling was founded by Gundulf, c.1090 and though there appears to be some evidence of a pre-conquest foundation, it is to Gundulf that the medieval nunnery owes its origin. (5) Houses of Benedictine Nuns - The Abbey of St. Mary, Malling. Founded c.1090, dissolved 1538. Scheduled as an Ancient Monument. [Quotes Authy 3 as Primary source for foundation date, supported by Auths 2 and 6. No mention of a pre-Conquest foundation made.] (6) Additional refs. (7-10) Later Secular History: After the surrender in 1538, the lands were first exchanged by the Crown with the Archbp. of Canterbury but were re-exchanged under Elizabeth. Thereafter they were twice granted and resumed by the Crown until in 1620 they were granted to John Rayney. His son sold them to the Honeywood family and they held the Abbey until 1799 when it was sold. It occurs in different hands until it was given in 1892 to an Anglican Benedictine Sisterhood. It is still occupied by a religious community. Architectural History: The precinct of the abbey, originally occupying c.12 acres, was surrounded by a stone wall [TQ 65 NE 45]. The precinct was entered on the north side by a gatehouse mainly of 14th c. date, with an attached chapel, probably of the same period [TQ 65 NE 46]. Facing the gatehouse are the remains of the C11th aisleless church which was found to have 12th and 13th c. additions in 1932.(13) [TQ 65 NE 40]. The cloister was laid out in the normal position to the south of the nave. The eastern range, comprising the remains of the chapter house and dorter undercroft, [TQ 65 NE 47] is incorporated into a mid-18th c. house built mainly upon the southern range [TQ 65 NE 48] of which the 13th c. arcade alone survives. The western range [TQ 65 NE 49] is completely destroyed. There may have been a second court or cloister, [TQ 65 NE 50], associated with the 15th c. guest house [TQ 65 NE 51] on the west or an infirmary or abbesses' apartments, totally destroyed on the south. The nuns' cemetery [TQ 65 NE 52] may have been to the east of the church. There is a fine medieval barn [TQ 65 NE 53] [Authy does not mention fish-ponds - TQ 65 NE 54] At the north east angle of the precinct is a vaulted tunnel, apparently authentic, but of unknown purpose and origin. (11) Nameplate: "St. Mary's Abbey". Now a convent of Carmelite nuns. An Antiquity Model Survey has been carried out. (12) Checked and correct, with the exception of a new range of buildings which has been erected on the site of the west range of the cloister. (13)

Additional bibliography (14-23)

Results of building recording within the gatehouse and discussion of various archaeological works undertaken at the site (24)


<1> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<2> F2 FGA 19-FEB-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43329.

<3> OS 6" 1936 (OS Card Reference). SKE48337.

<4> VCH Kent 2 1926 146 (OS Card Reference). SKE50948.

<5> Arch J 88 1932 175 (F H Fairweather) (OS Card Reference). SKE36752.

<6> Ant J 34 1954 55 (F C Elliston-Erwood) (OS Card Reference). SKE33170.

<7> The Md Relig Houses of England and Wales 1953 214 (Knowles and Hadcock) (OS Card Reference). SKE50410.

<8> Monasticon Angl 1846 3 380 (Dugdale) (OS Card Reference). SKE47321.

<9> Ants of Eng and Wales 3 1787 115 (Grose) (OS Card Reference). SKE33309.

<10> Notitia Mon 1787 Kent XXXIX (Tanner ed Nasmith) (OS Card Reference). SKE47707.

<11> Antiq and Topo Cabinet 4 1808 unpage (J Storer) (OS Card Reference). SKE33246.

<12> Arch J 88 1932 175 (F H Fairweather) (OS Card Reference). SKE36752.

<13> F1 ASP 02-JUN-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE41896.

<14> Malling Abbey (C H Fielding) (OS Card Reference). SKE46504.

<15> Invicta 1 114-122 (OS Card Reference). SKE44503.

<16> MGHL 2227/11/A May 1950 109-110 (OS Card Reference). SKE46895.

<17> The Buildings of England West Kent and the Weald 1980 601-603 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE50243.

<18> DOE (IAM) Schedule List Kent 3 11 1986 (OS Card Reference). SKE40780.

<19> Arch J 62 1905 186 (OS Card Reference). SKE36665.

<20> Med Rel Houses Eng and Wales 1971 261 (D Knowles and R M Hadcock) (OS Card Reference). SKE46795.

<21> DOE (IAM) SAMS 1988 Kent 4 (OS Card Reference). SKE40774.

<22> Field report for monument TQ 65 NE 9 - June, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3295.

<23> Field report for monument TQ 65 NE 9 - February, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3296.

<24> Alan Ward, 2001, Archaeologia Cantiana - St Marys Abbey, West Malling (Article in serial). SKE53836.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>XYMap: English Heritage. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. [Mapped feature: #36026 priory, ]
<2>OS Card Reference: F2 FGA 19-FEB-64.
<3>OS Card Reference: OS 6" 1936.
<4>OS Card Reference: VCH Kent 2 1926 146.
<5>OS Card Reference: Arch J 88 1932 175 (F H Fairweather).
<6>OS Card Reference: Ant J 34 1954 55 (F C Elliston-Erwood).
<7>OS Card Reference: The Md Relig Houses of England and Wales 1953 214 (Knowles and Hadcock).
<8>OS Card Reference: Monasticon Angl 1846 3 380 (Dugdale).
<9>OS Card Reference: Ants of Eng and Wales 3 1787 115 (Grose).
<10>OS Card Reference: Notitia Mon 1787 Kent XXXIX (Tanner ed Nasmith).
<11>OS Card Reference: Antiq and Topo Cabinet 4 1808 unpage (J Storer).
<12>OS Card Reference: Arch J 88 1932 175 (F H Fairweather).
<13>OS Card Reference: F1 ASP 02-JUN-59.
<14>OS Card Reference: Malling Abbey (C H Fielding).
<15>OS Card Reference: Invicta 1 114-122.
<16>OS Card Reference: MGHL 2227/11/A May 1950 109-110.
<17>OS Card Reference: The Buildings of England West Kent and the Weald 1980 601-603 (J Newman).
<18>OS Card Reference: DOE (IAM) Schedule List Kent 3 11 1986.
<19>OS Card Reference: Arch J 62 1905 186.
<20>OS Card Reference: Med Rel Houses Eng and Wales 1971 261 (D Knowles and R M Hadcock).
<21>OS Card Reference: DOE (IAM) SAMS 1988 Kent 4.
<22>Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TQ 65 NE 9 - June, 1959.
<23>Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TQ 65 NE 9 - February, 1964.
<24>Article in serial: Alan Ward. 2001. Archaeologia Cantiana - St Marys Abbey, West Malling. Vol 121 pp. 385-404.

Related records

TQ 65 NE 48Parent of: 18th Century house incorporating 11th century remains, St Mary's Abbey, West Malling (Monument)
TQ 65 NE 54Parent of: A lake and remains of 18th century fishponds, St Mary's Abbey, West Malling (Monument)
TQ 65 NE 47Parent of: Chapter House and Church, St Mary's Abbey, West Malling (Monument)
TQ 65 NE 158Parent of: EWELL MONASTERY THE ABBEY TITHE BARN (Listed Building)
TQ 65 NE 46Parent of: GATEHOUSE AND CHAPEL TO ST MARY'S ABBEY (Listed Building)
TQ 65 NE 51Parent of: Guest House, St Mary's Abbey, West Malling (Monument)
TQ 65 NE 50Parent of: Medieval courtyard, St Mary's Abbey, West Malling (Monument)
TQ 65 NE 52Parent of: Nun's cemetery, St Mary's Abbey, West Malling (Monument)
TQ 65 NE 45Parent of: Precinct wall and sites of postern gate and gateway, St Mary's Abbey, West Malling (Monument)
TQ 65 NE 40Parent of: Remains of a Norman Abbey Church, West Malling (Monument)
TQ 65 NE 49Parent of: The western range of cloisters at St Mary's Abbey, West Malling (Monument)