Remains Of Merevale Abbey

MEREVALE MEREVALE LANE SP29NE (South-east side) 1/122 Remains of Merevale Abbey 23/11/51 (Formerly listed as Remains of Merevale Abbey in garden of farm) GV II* Abbey ruins. C13. Regular coursed sandstone. The remains consist principally of the north and south walls of the Refectory. The north wall rises to approximately 6 metres high on the left. 10 bar-stop-chamfered buttresses have moulded plinth and gablets. The wall drops to about 1.25 metres high. On the right is another large section of wall surrounding the elaborately moulded portal to the transept, of 3 orders with remains of nook-shafts. Beyond is a smaller, simpler archway of 2 chamfered orders; a section of curved wall to the right, probably largely rebuilt, is attached to Abbey Farmhouse (q.v.). Inside, the portal has a round arch and hood mould. To the right the wall has a high dado and 6 closely-set attached shafts with moulded bases and fillets; some retain moulded capitals. South wall has high splay and moulded plinth and remains of buttresses to left and right. Slight projection containing reading pulpit and staircase is approximately 4 metres high. Low section of wall to right. Inside is a moulded doorway with hood mould, the stone staircase with 2 quatrefoil peep-holes, and traces of 2 shafts of the pulpit. Merevale Abbey was a Cistercian house founded in 1148 by Robert, Earl Ferrers. Scheduled ancient monument. (Buildings of England: Warwickshire: p351; VCH: Warwickshire: Vol IV, p143)

Listing NGR: SP2922797783