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.
Leeds Priory has had a long and varied history, dating from the 12th century
onwards. The Augustinian priory was a wealthy foundation, structural
remains of which still survive in the form of the so-called slype, part of the
gatehouse and one of the two dovecotes. Partial excavation of the priory
in the 1970s demonstrated the survival of buried archaeological remains and
considerably enhanced our understanding of the site,
especially with regard to its layout and the various phases of construction.
After the priory's dissolution in the mid-16th century, the Meredith
family mansion was constructed within the precinct. Although few documentary
records have survived, the mansion is known to have been the seat of several
wealthy families in turn. The only known illustration of the mansion shows a
large country house. This can no longer be seen although a few walls
representing associated features still stand, incorporated into modern farm
buildings.
Details
The monument includes the known upstanding and buried remains of the
medieval Augustinian Priory of St Mary and St Nicholas, two dovecotes which
are Listed Grade II, dating from the 16th/17th centuries, and the building
known as the slype, which is also Listed Grade II, first constructed during
the medieval period and altered in the 16th and 19th centuries. The area is
also known to be the site of the 17th/18th century Meredith family
mansion, which no longer survives above ground. The remains are
all sited within the grounds of Abbey Farm, once part of the Leeds Castle
Estate.
There are now few upstanding remains of the priory buildings. A length of
wall, which is Listed Grade II, to the south east of Abbey Farmhouse (Listed
Grade II) is thought to have been associated with the priory buildings or
precinct boundary wall, while part of the abbey gatehouse is incorporated into
the structure of the Manor House (Listed Grade II*). One of the two dovecotes
and the slype are also thought to have been associated with the priory. Most
knowledge about the priory, however, comes from partial excavation by P J
Tester during the 1970s. This revealed the plan of the monastic buildings and
the church, as well as providing information on the various phases of building
works on the site. The Augustinian Priory of St Mary and St Nicholas is
believed to have been founded by Robert de Crevecoeur in 1119. Two charters
exist relating to the foundation - the first is the grant of land at Leeds on
which the priory was built, and the second is a grant to the canons of the
advowsons of all the churches in his lands (Leeds, Goudhurst, Lamberhurst,
Farleigh, Teston, Chatham and Rainham). In the late 13th century the advowson
of the priory passed out of the control of the Crevecoeur family, and into the
hands of the crown, where it remained until the priory was dissolved, sometime
between 1537 and 1540, when most of its possessions were granted to the Dean
and Chapter of Rochester. In the Taxatio of Pope Nicholas IV in 1291, the
value of the temporalities of the priory was given as thirty seven pounds,
eighteen shillings, while in the Valor of 1535, the income of the priory was
recorded as three hundred and sixty two pounds, seven shillings and seven
pence. Throughout its history, Leeds priory was a large and wealthy
foundation, with a prior and around 20 canons (in 1379 there are thought to
have been a prior and 22 canons; in 1425, a prior and 24 canons, and in 1511 a
prior and 20 canons are recorded).
Of the two dovecotes, the smaller structure appears to be the earlier, built
at the beginning of the 16th century to serve the priory, while the large
building became necessary after the site passed into private ownership, and
the number of inhabitants increased dramatically.
The slype appears to have a medieval core with 16th and 19th century
alterations, and may have been connected with the Priory or with the manor
house which replaced it in the late 17th and 18th centuries.
After the religious foundation was dissolved by Henry VIII, the lease of all
the lands belonging to the priory was granted to Sir Anthony St Leger. Soon
after this the property came into the possession of the Meredith family, and a
large mansion was built, probably to the west of the priory buildings. The
dovecotes and the slype are thought to have continued in use and were
associated with this structure, until it was sold at auction and demolished in
the late 18th or early 19th century. Nothing now remains of the
manor house and there is little information available about it other than an
engraving of the house made in 1719 and published soon afterwards.
Abbey Farmhouse, Abbey Mill House with associated outbuildings and Brook
House are all Listed Grade II, while The Manor House is Listed Grade
II*; these buildings are all excluded from the scheduling; also excluded from
the scheduling are all standing farm outbuildings, the surfaces of all roads
and paths, any service trenches below ground, all modern fences and walling
and the telegraph posts; the ground beneath all of these features is, however,
included.
MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
