Remains Of Merevale Abbey

The remains of Merevale Abbey are a significant historical site dating from the 13th century, located on Merevale Lane. The ruins are primarily composed of the north and south walls of the Refectory, built from regularly coursed sandstone. The north wall stands approximately 6 meters high on the left and features 10 bar-stop-chamfered buttresses with moulded plinths and gablets. The wall then drops to about 1.25 meters high. To the right, there is a large section of wall that surrounds an elaborately moulded portal to the transept, which has three orders and the remains of nook-shafts. Adjacent to this is a smaller, simpler archway with two chamfered orders. There is also a section of curved wall to the right, likely largely rebuilt, which is attached to Abbey Farmhouse.

Inside, the portal features a round arch and hood mould. The right wall includes a high dado and six closely-set attached shafts with moulded bases and fillets, some of which still have moulded capitals. The south wall has a high splay and moulded plinth, along with the remains of buttresses on both sides. A slight projection containing a reading pulpit and staircase rises to approximately 4 meters high, with a low section of wall to the right. Inside, there is a moulded doorway with a hood mould, a stone staircase featuring two quatrefoil peep-holes, and traces of two shafts from the pulpit. Merevale Abbey was a Cistercian house founded in 1148 by Robert, Earl Ferrers, and is designated as a scheduled ancient monument.