Archaeology of Cirencester Abbey

After the dissolution in 1539 the Abbey lands were passed back to the crown then eventually being sold to the physician of Elizabeth I Richard Master in 1564 who had a mansion house built on the site and although the house was re-built in the early 18th century the land stayed in the Chester-master family until 1964.

The presence of the Abbey is well documented in written sources however its dissolution in 1539, removed all trace of the site of the Abbey Church and its attendant buildings. Those that were permitted to remain in the town were the Norman arch as it is known locally, and the Abbots lodgings next to the gate, St John’s Hospital, the baking, brewery and malting houses, stables and barns, dovecotes and anything that may be deemed use to future tenants.

The earliest archaeological work on the Site were carried out by W. St Clair Baddeley and Richard Reece in about 1930s. The limited excavations seem to have located the rear of the northern range of cloisters. No records from this work remain.  The excavation which took place from 1964 to 1965 only covers the main body of the Abbey which is those that were destroyed after the dissolution which were the church, chapter house, cloisters, refectory, dormitory, library, infirmary, kitchen and the quarters of Abbey Officers. In 1930 the first excavation took place to the North of Abbey House but no records survive. In 1959 trial excavation of the Abbey site. Beecham (1887), Fuller (1893) and Baddeley (1924) assumed the Abbey to be under Abbey House, 6 trial pits were dug in front of Abbey house before the balustrade but revealed nothing of note. One trench in front of the balustrade revealed a 2-foot wide ashlar wall running east to west with flooring either side.

Only a small proportion of stone had a recorded context as most stonework came from post-dissolution destruction deposits. Most of the stone was re-buried after excavation and only those pieces considered of architectural significance were kept and deposited at the Museum about 1000 pieces. Less than 10% of that has been studied. There is significant study that could be done to improve our understanding of the stone work.

A large number of tiles were excavated from the site at least 651 separate tiles.

The finds were found in disturbed contexts so could not reliably be used for dating. Objects found include coins, tokens, jewellery, buckles and belt fittings, dress accessories, thimbles, knives and daggers, religious items, book clasps, household items such as candlesticks, door knocker, plates, cutlery, shears and tools, horse equipment, and keys.