Archaeological fieldwork summary

From 2014 to present day a programme of archaeological fieldwork, site survey, historical research and finds-building material research is being carried out. ​ This work has suggested that the land covered by the Lesnes Abbey Estate was exploited during Palaeolithic, Prehistoric and Roman times, as shown by traces of early landuse-building patterns and find scatters across the open parkland and parts of the woodland. ​ By c.1178 AD a small Augustinian Abbey was laid out across the lower terrace promontory, much of which seems to have been excavated during the early 20th century c.1909-1950s by W Clapham and others, who recorded much of the ruined ground plan we still see across the parkland today. ​ Recent archaeological fieldwork and research across the western side of the abbey precinct revealed a range of buildings and structures, two of which were associated with a previously unknown medieval Christian burial ground. ​ Across this area were also located fragments of the previously unrecorded western gate-house, part of the north-western boundary wall and western trackway into the abbey, which some suggest forms part of the Pilgrims path into the western side of the abbey. ​ Within the building demolition that stratigraphically sealed off some of the western medieval abbey building remains were located a range of medieval and early post-medieval pottery, floor tile, glazed-plain roof peg tile and shaped-moulded-cut building stone. ​ While it is clear that the eastern side of the abbey was covered by late Victorian dumps, spoil heaps and landscaping from the various excavations between 1909-1950s, this process seems not to have happened across the western side of the site. Along this side the western stratigraphic sequence demonstrates that the demolition dumps above the medieval abbey buildings represents a clear chronological boundary between the old abbey building-burial landscape and later post-dissolution landuse. ​ Across other parts of the Lesnes Abbey Estate fieldwork established that there are a number of outer buildings, structures and other features scattered across the parkland-high woodland terrace, some of which seems to fit into the abbey’s agricultural estate landscape. ​ By early post dissolution times part of the old western burial ground and associated abbey buildings had been demolished, levelled over and sealed by the partial remains of an early post-medieval E shaped ground-plan building, which dates to around c.1550-1600 AD. Although the function of this building pattern is uncertain, from its ground-plan it may form part of a large post-medieval farmstead, possibly connected with the large estate buildings recorded across the northern side of the old ruined abbey buildings. ​ By c.1800s large parts of the old western abbey boundary wall, gate-house and other buildings were demolished, levelled over, possibly as the Lesnes Abbey Farm changed into smaller farmsteads and subsequently turned into the modern parkland we see today. ​ This project was carried out with the help of a number of other local archaeologists, historians and other people, who gave their valuable time willingly to help on this project, many of whom have an amazing knowledge of local medieval history and archaeology. This summary is an extract from a forthcoming publication by Anthony B Thomas on the Archaeological and Historical Development across the Lesnes Abbey Estate