Reasons for Designation
From the time of St Augustine's mission to re-establish Christianity in AD 597
to the reign of Henry VIII, monasticism formed an important facet of both
religious and secular life in the British Isles. Settlements of religious
communities, including monasteries, were built to house communities of monks,
canons (priests), and sometimes lay-brothers, living a common life of
religious observance under some form of systematic discipline. It is estimated
from documentary evidence that over 700 monasteries were founded in England.
These ranged in size from major communities with several hundred members to
tiny establishments with a handful of brethren. They belonged to a wide
variety of different religious orders, each with its own philosophy. As a
result, they vary considerably in the detail of their appearance and layout,
although all possess the basic elements of church, domestic accommodation for
the community, and work buildings. Monasteries were inextricably woven into
the fabric of medieval society, acting not only as centres of worship,
learning, and charity, but also, because of the vast landholdings of some
orders, as centres of immense wealth and political influence. They were
established in all parts of England, some in towns and others in the remotest
of areas. Many monasteries acted as the foci of wide networks including parish
churches, almshouses, hospitals, farming estates and tenant villages. Some 225
of these religious houses belonged to the order of St Augustine. The
Augustinians were not monks in the strict sense, but rather communities of
canons - or priests - living under the rule of St Augustine. In England they
came to be known as `black canons' because of their dark coloured robes and to
distinguish them from the Cistercians who wore light clothing. From the 12th
century onwards, they undertook much valuable work in the parishes, running
almshouses, schools and hospitals as well as maintaining and preaching in
parish churches. It was from the churches that they derived much of their
revenue. The Augustinians made a major contribution to many facets of medieval
life and all of their monasteries which exhibit significant surviving
archaeological remains are worthy of protection.
Details
The monument includes the remains of the Augustinian Priory of Saint James
located in the village of Warter. Extensive earthworks are visible across
almost the entire site. These include building platforms and foundations, some
of which have been identified as remains of the church and the attached
cloister and its buildings. On the north side of the site a linear earthwork
may be an original boundary around the inner monastic precinct. A complex of
water-management features including dry fishponds is also visible. The
southern portion of the site includes the churchyard of the Grade II listed
modern parish church of Saint James, which was built on the site of the priory
church. The priory was founded in 1132 by Geoffrey FitzPain, on a site already
occupied by a church served by canons. Initially the priory was a daughter
house of Arrouaise but it had gained its independance by 1162. Warter Priory
was suppressed in 1536, when it was valued at 144 pounds 7 shillings and
8 pence, and was granted to the Earl of Rutland. After the Dissolution the
nave of the priory church continued in use as the parish church until 1864
when it was demolished and replaced by the present church. In 1899 William St
John Hope carried out a short programme of excavations to the east of the
present church, when the foundations of the priory church's tower, the north
end of a transept, and what were believed to be foundations of chapter house
and presbytery walls were located. The present church is excluded from the
scheduling, although the ground beneath it is included. The small portion of
the churchyard, to the west of the church, which is still in use for burials
is not included in the scheduling.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
21170
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
