Ruins Of Abbey Church Of St Edmund

The ruins of the Abbey Church of St Edmund date from the 11th and 12th centuries and are constructed from flint rubble with some stone dressings. The church originally measured 505 feet in length. The nave, which was extended into 12 bays during the tenure of Abbot Anselm from 1121 to 1148, featured arcades on both sides, although only the rubble bases of several columns remain today. The two large transepts are more intact, each having eastern aisles and two apsidal chapels on either side; one of the northern chapels was replaced by a Lady Chapel in 1275.

The crossing tower, which began construction just after 1100 and was completed by Abbot Anselm, has been damaged over time and was rebuilt in stages starting in 1361. The tallest parts of the ruins today are the remnants of the high crossing arches that supported the central tower. Beyond the site of the High Altar, the ground drops sharply, and while the five-bay chancel is missing, the crypt beneath it is the oldest surviving part of the Abbey, built under Abbot Baldwin shortly after 1066. The crypt is well-defined, with outer walls rising above the former window sills and the bases of most columns along the ambulatory still visible. The crypt is apsidal in shape, featuring three chapels at the east end, with two semicircular chapels flanking the apse. The layout of the chancel was similar, including an ambulatory and three radiating chapels at the east end. The site is designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.