Sawley Abbey Ruins

SD 74 SE SAWLEY

SD 776 464

3/151 16.11.1954

Sawley Abbey Ruins

GV I

Cistercian Abbey, founded 1147, dissolved 1536. Now ruinous. Rubble with some sandstone dressings remaining. The walls of the transepts, with 3 square east chapels on each side, and of the very small nave (possibly shortened in the early C16th), survive to various heights, the maximum approximately 10 metres. Only the lower courses of the chancel, widened and lengthened in the early C16th by adding aisles, remain. Only foundation or low walls of the conventual buildings survive. These include the chapter house, undercroft of the dorter, the rere-dorter, and, on the south side, the frater. On the west side of the cloister were the dorter and frater of the lay bretheren, later converted in part into Abbot's lodgings. At the north end of the west range is a fireplace with segmental arch and bread oven, possibly post-reformation. Scheduled Ancient Monument. Harland, J. Historical Account of the Cistercian Abbey of Sawley, 1853.

Listing NGR: SD7765246433