Ruins Of Lesnes Abbey

ABBEY ROAD 1. 5005 Abbey Wood TQ 47 NE 2/1 20.5.55. Ruins of Lesnes Abbey II 2. The Abbey of St Mary and St Thomas the Martyr was founded by Richard de Lucy, Chief Justiciar of England, for Augustinian Canons in 1178. It was suppressed by Cardinal Wolsey in 1524. The mansion into which the building was subsequently converted was demolished in 1844. The ruins were excavated by the Woolwich Antiquarian Society in 1909, and up to 1930 by Sir Alfred Clapham; to 1939-51 by E C Elliston Erwood for the London County Council who then owned them. Ruins consist of the footings of walls and in some places portions of wall up to approximately 8 feet high, of Kentish ragstone, flint and chalk, and consist of the remains of the abbey church and the monastic buildings to the north. There is one pointed stone doorway and several lancet windows. Scheduled as an Ancient monument.

Listing NGR: TQ4792578765