Reasons for Designation
From the time of St Augustine's mission to re-establish Christianity in AD 597
monasticism formed an important facet of both religious and secular life in
the British Isles. Early monasteries were built to house communities of monks.
The main buildings provided facilities for worship, accommodation and
subsistence. They included a series of timber halls and perhaps a stone
church, all located within some form of enclosure. Those sites which have been
excavated indicate that no standard layout of buildings was in use. Rather, a
great diversity in building form, construction, arrangement and function is
evident. Pre-Conquest monastic sites are rare nationally and fewer than
100 sites have been recognized from documentary sources. The locations of less
than half of these have been confirmed. They are of considerable importance
for any analysis of the introduction of Christianity into the country, and all
examples exhibiting survival of archaeological remains are identified as
nationally important.
Monasteries belonged to a wide range of religious orders, each with its own
philosophy and rules. The most influential were those written by St Benedict,
an Italian monk who founded the abbey of Monte Cassino near Naples in the
early sixth century. His rule laid out a code of conduct for leading an
ordered way of life based on the teachings of the Gospels, and proposed a
timetable for religious observance and other activities. Many early
monasteries including that of St Andrew's in Rome where Augustine had been
prior followed these basic principles, and it seems likely that the early
Saxon monastery of St Peter and St Paul was organized along these lines,
although the first real attempt to form a Benedictine order did not come until
1216. Benedictine houses, of which over 150 were eventually founded in England
were usually among the earliest monasteries, with their origin in the Saxon
period. They were often wealthy, with royal connections, and included those
English cathedrals which were run on monastic lines. The monks were
distinguishable from monks of other orders by their black robes or habits.
Benedictine monasteries made a major contribution to many facets of medieval
life and all examples exhibiting significant surviving archaeological remains
are worthy of protection.
As the location directly associated with St Augustine's mission to bring
Christianity to the Anglo-Saxons, St Augustine's abbey is one of England's
earliest and most important monastic sites. Its significance is further
enhanced by its use as a burial place for the kings of Kent, the early
archbishops of Canterbury and its subsequent conversion into a Royal palace by
Henry VIII. Excavation has shown the site to have a long history of use with
Bronze Age, Roman and Saxon occupation preceeding the construction of the
Saxon abbey. During the Norman period the earlier buildings were almost
completely obliterated by rebuilding, and the abbey extended northwards to
include land previously outside the ecclesiastical precinct. All will contain
extensive archaeological and environmental deposits providing information
about the development and use of the site, its economy and the environmental
setting from the prehistoric to the immediate post-medieval period. A large
proportion of the monument is open to the public and has added significance as
a well-used public amenity and educational resource. Its international
cultural importance has been recognized by its designation as part of the
Canterbury World Heritage Site.
Details
The monument includes the standing and buried remains of St Augustine's
Abbey, situated to the east of Canterbury's city wall, in the area
defined by Longport to the south, Monastery Street to the west and
Havelock Street and North Holmes Road to the north. It includes the
remains of successive periods of the abbey's development as well as Henry
VIII's royal palace (constructed following the Dissolution) and evidence
of Anglo-Saxon and prehistoric occupation discovered in the course of
excavations within and adjacent to the precinct. The southern part of the
monument (including the exposed foundations of the abbey church and
claustral range) is in the care of the Secretary of State and is on
display to the public. The northern part of the abbey precinct is largely
overlain by modern buildings including those of Christ Church College and
St Augustine's College (the King's School). The eastern part is overlain
by Canterbury Prison and the County Court. Areas within the wider
precinct which have not been subjected to significant modern development
are included in the scheduling.
The abbey, originally dedicated to St Peter and St Paul, and established
in commemoration of Pope Gregory the Great's successful mission to
reintroduce Christianity to southern England, is one of the oldest
monastic sites in the country. It was founded by St Augustine on land
granted by King Aethelbert of Kent soon after his conversion in c.597.
Its situation just outside the Roman (and later) medieval city walls
reflects its intended function as a royal and espiscopal funerary site,
conforming with the Roman tradition of burial outside the settlement.
The earliest, Saxon, building phase, known from documentary evidence and
from several archaeological excavations in the 20th century, included the
construction of a series of separate churches or chapels arranged in an
east-west line within the area now on public display. All had the same
basic ground plan - rectangular nave and apsidal chancel - and,
disregarding various porticus (side chapels), were similar in size.
Little is known of the accompanying domestic structures, but evidence for
these may survive beneath the buried remains of the medieval buildings to
the north. According to Bede, the abbey church of St Peter and St Paul was
still under construction when Augustine died (by 610), but is thought to
have been largely completed and consecrated in time for King Aethelbert's
funeral (between 616 and 620).
Built from reused Roman brick bonded with a pebbly mortar, the church had
a nave 11.7m long by 8.1m wide, with flanking porticus to the north and
south (each 8.6m wide), and a porch to the west. The walls were
plastered and the floor was of crushed brick and mortar. The chancel was
separated from the nave by an arched cross wall. Doors from the nave
gave access to the porticus, which were divided by thin internal walls.
The southern porticus contained the tombs of King Aethelbert and his
wife, Bertha, together with other members of the Kentish royal family;
that to the north housed the remains of the first six archbishops of
Canterbury including Augustine. An 11th century account describes the
removal of these remains prior to the dismantling of the Saxon church and
the building of its Norman successor. Three of the empty tombs (of
Archbishops Laurence, Mellitus and Justus) together with a section of the
north wall of the porticus, are still visible within the area of the
remains of the Norman church's north aisle, and represent the earliest
church burials in England.
The chapel of St Mary, aligned with, and immediately to the east of the
abbey church, was built around 620 by Aethelbert's successor, Eadbald.
This, too, had a funerary purpose and is documented as having contained
the tombs of King Eadbald and Queen Emma and their successors together
with many of the early abbots of the monastery. St Mary's chapel was
also constructed from Roman brick and the basic plan was elaborated upon
by the addition of porticus around the north, south and west sides. A
section of the western wall foundation, all that survives of the chapel,
is visible within the choir area of the Norman church.
To the east of St Mary's chapel are the remains of the church of St
Pancras. According to a 14th century tradition Augustine celebrated his
first mass in Canterbury in this building, then believed to be of pagan
origin and subsequently consecrated by Augustine himself. However, it is
now thought to have been built in the 7th century. Its dedication may
reflect interest in the cult of St Pancras which was fostered by Pope
Honorius I (625-38). Using similar construction techniques and materials
to those of the abbey church, St Pancras' Church was laid out with a nave
12.6m long and 8m wide, an arcaded cross wall dividing it from the apse.
A small square porticus adjoined the apse to the south, and there is some
evidence to suggest that a matching northern porticus was also built. In
the mid-8th century the church was largely rebuilt to the same plan but
with the addition of two square flanking porticus opening from the nave,
and a square porch at the west end.
By the 10th century Anglo-Saxon monasticism was in decline, in part due
to the depredations of the Vikings, and the abbey was one of only a few
early foundations still in existence. It is possible that the growing
cult of St Augustine aided its survival: by the 9th century the abbey was
popularly known as St Augustine's. Revival began after the accession of
King Edgar in 959 when the merits of Benedictine monasticism were
promoted. Edgar was instrumental in the appointment of a leading
Benedictine, Dunstan, to the archbishopric of Canterbury. It seems
likely that the monks already followed the Rule of St Benedict, perhaps
incorporating local customs, but Dunstan almost certainly reformed the
regime. In 978 Dunstan rededicated the church to St Peter, St Paul and
St Augustine, and this may have followed modifications and extensions to
the building. Some alterations were carried out to the east end which
may have involved the relocation of the altar. At the west end the nave
was extended over the area of the porch, and an annexe and new porch were
added. In addition a mortuary chapel was constructed to the west of the
porch in the lay cemetery area.
It is believed that the domestic ranges, located to the north of the
church, received attention at this period. Documentary evidence
accredits the building of the cloister to Abbot Aelfmaer (1006-17), but
archaeological evidence has demonstrated at least two earlier
construction phases. Historical records also mention an infirmary with a
church dedicated to St Maurice and the Theban Martys nearby, both of
which existed during Aelfmaer's abbacy. The abbey chronicler, Goscelin
relates that Aelfmaer dismantled the ornate canopies over the tombs of
Augustine and the other archbishops in the north porticus in advance of
removal of the burials, reusing the materials to ornament the cloister. This
implies that Aelfmaer's work was part of an elaborate plan involving major
alterations to the abbey church, perhaps following the sacking of Canterbury
by the Vikings in 1011. In this episode Archbishop Aelfheah was murdered but
Aelfmaer was captured and escaped. Christ Church, in the centre of Canterbury
is said to have been burnt and plundered and it is doubtful that the
well-known St Augustine's escaped attack. Aelfmaer's work could, then, have
been a response to these events, but one which was not carried to completion.
A successor to Aelfmaer, Wulfric II (1047-61) was responsible for the next
significant building phase which included a massive tower probably commenced
by his predecessor since it was completed in the year of Wulfric's election.
This tower, perhaps a belfry, may be identified with substantial foundations,
square in plan, found to the south west of the Saxon church. It is thought
that a further small chapel with a circular tower situated close to the west
door of the abbey church was also built about this time. However, Wulfric's
main project was an innovative plan to link the abbey church with St Mary's
chapel by means of a rotunda, an undertaking which involved the demolition of
the chancel of the abbey church and the western porticus of St Mary's. The
proposed new structure, octagonal in plan outside, and circular within,
measured 9.3m in diameter overall and was to be supported by columns based on
eight wedge-shaped foundation piers. Similar buildings in France suggest that
the central tower would have been three storeys high with a crypt below, and
that the interior, although open to the roof, would have included galleries
with a circular ambulatory around the lower levels. The piers and foundations
of the ambulatory were revealed during excavations early in the 20th century
and are still visible within the choir area of the Norman church remains.
It is unlikely that Wulfric's rotunda was ever completed since the next
abbot, Scolland (1070-87), horrified by the piecemeal modifications, and
worried that the original fabric was in danger of collapse, proposed a
complete rebuild in the new Romanesque style. By this period the abbey
housed so many relics and burials (in addition to those of the early
archbishops and royal family) that the rebuild had to be carried out in
stages to allow for the removal and reinterrment of relics and remains.
Goscelin's eye-witness account provides a detailed and vividly
descriptive chronology of the work up to about 1100. This new building,
wider than the Saxon church and extending over the areas occupied by the
western chapel and that of St Mary's, was constructed from stone imported
from Caen and Marquise in France, and from the Isle of Wight. The floor
was tiled and some of the tiling survives in its original position.
Cruciform in plan with an apsidal presbytery to the east, the church had
twin towers flanking the west door. The nave aisles to the north and
south supported galleries with a clerestory level above. Each transept
had a semi-circular chapel projecting from its east wall and six similar
chapels were incorporated into the east end, three at presbytery level
and three opening from the crypt below. Each set of chapels was accessed
from an ambulatory and provided accommodation for some of the numerous
relics. This phase, which also included construction of the choir (over
the infilled crypt of Wulfric's rotunda) the transepts and the
foundations of the nave, was completed by 1091 when the remains of the
early archbishops were exhumed. The bones of King Aethelbert were also
moved to a reliquary above the high altar. The nave, with a lantern tower
over the crossing, was completed under Abbot Wido (1087-99) who may also have
laid the foundations for the towers at the west end. The southernmost tower
is thought have incorporated part of Wulfric's belfry as buttressing, and
both were completed by Abbot Hugh of Fleury (1099-24) who also commenced a
renewal of the claustral and domestic ranges.
Although historical records attest to the existence of a number of early
monastic buildings, including an 8th century chapter house, few of these
records are contemporary, and evidence revealed by excavation is slight.
However, the remains of many of the post-Conquest buildings can be seen
in plan on the ground, with significant portions surviving as standing
remains (Listed Grade I). The cloister as laid out in the 11th century
and completed in 1276 by the addition of covered alleys, lies to the
immediate north of the abbey church. The surrounding and adjacent
buildings were rebuilt or remodelled over a period from the late 11th
century until the 15th century. Following the demolition of the Saxon
buildings a chapter house, dormitory, reredorter, frater and cellarium
were constructed around the cloister. The northern gable and two western
buttresses of the dormitory are still visible. A new infirmary and chapel
were constructed to the east of these ranges about the same time, all
initial work being completed in the 13th century. These buildings, known
from archaeological excavation and aerial survey evidence, are no longer
visible but survive as buried remains beneath the playing fields to the
north of the abbey church.
The precinct wall was also reconstructed to include an extension of the
lay cemetery south into Longport, probably in 1103 when the abbey was
granted the right to hold an August fair in the cemetery. A section of
the precinct wall to the south west, adjacent to the cemetery gate formed
the north wall of a new sacrist's yard and part of the new southern wall
(Listed Grade II) survives to the west of the Visitor Centre. By this
period the wall which still stands between the east end of the abbey
church and the porch of St Pancras' church had been constructed to
separate the lay cemetery to the south from the monastic buildings to the
north.
In the 13th century the northern claustral range (Listed Grade I),
including the lavatorium, frater and kitchen, was totally rebuilt, the
lavatorium including a water tower supplied from a conduit house (the
subject of a separate scheduling) on St Martin's Hill to the east of the
site. The cellarium, in the western range of the cloister buildings, became
the site of a new abbot's lodging with a great hall to the north. The Great
Court was enlarged and a new main gate in the western precinct wall - the
Fyndon Gate (Listed Grade I) - was completed, together with a guest hall,
in 1309. During this century the chapter house, adjoining the northern
transept of the church, was also rebuilt. Expansion of the precinct to
the north allowed the construction of an outer court with a cellarer's
range, brewhouse and bakehouse, and, by 1320, a walled vineyard. The
western gable of the brewhouse and bakehouse stands adjacent to Coleridge
House and is Listed Grade II. Expansion also took place on the eastern
side of the abbey where a series of lodgings was added to the infirmary
and a new walled cellarer's garden was laid out in the south eastern
corner of the precinct. The precinct wall was rebuilt and a new
cemetery gate put up in 1390 by the sacrist, Thomas of Ickham. The gate,
which has been heavily remodelled, still stands to the south west of the
abbey church remains and is a Listed Building Grade I. Thomas also
donated bells to the church and to a bell tower which is thought to have
been situated on the mound located in the south eastern area of the
site. Excavations here in 1964 revealed foundation walls for what was
probably a timber framed structure similar to that which survives at
Brookland near Appledore.
Thomas of Ickham was also responsible for repairs to the church of St
Pancras when the apsidal east end was replaced with a square chancel. St
Pancras' Church, including the east wall of the chancel, walls and
foundations of the nave, and the porch survives as a substantial standing
ruin and is a Grade I Listed Building.
The abbey church was largely rebuilt during a fire in the 12th century,
with no significant change to the plan, and, except for the addition of
St Anne's chapel, in the angle of the nave and the south transept, in
1362, little further work was carried out on the church until the 15th
century. At this time a rectangular buttressed Lady Chapel was added to
the east end of the abbey church. This may not have reached completion
before it was removed and replaced by a smaller chapel of similar design,
probably the work of Abbot John Dygon (1497-1509) who was buried in the
crypt.
In 1538 John Essex, last abbot of St Augustine's, surrendered the abbey
to the King's Commissioners. Unlike many ecclesiastical properties
following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, St Augustine's was retained
by the Crown and, in 1539, some of the buildings of the Great Court were
converted to a royal residence in advance of the arrival of Anne of
Cleves. The abbot's lodgings, situated on the eastern side of the Great
Court, were adapted to provide accommodation for Henry VIII and his
chaplain, with a hall for guests. A new building for Anne of Cleves was
put up on the south side abutting part of the north wall of the church
and of the north western tower (known as Ethelbert's Tower). In
addition, a rectangular area immediately to the west of the church was
enclosed by a wall extending south from the west door to the north wall
of the sacrist's yard, forming the King's Privy Garden.
Demolition of the church and monastic buildings commenced in 1541 and
there are records of stone from the site being sold over the next 20
years. However, a number of paintings and other illustrations from the
18th century show that substantial standing ruins survived for several
hundred years. The Ethelbert Tower which was integral to the structure
of the royal palace, largely collapsed in 1822. After Henry VIII's reign
the royal palace, known as the New Lodgings, and the monastic precinct were
leased and by 1612 they were in the hands of Lord and Lady Wotton who engaged
John Tradescant the Elder to lay out formal gardens and orchards over the
greater part of the site. A map of 1640 depicts the gardens but is not
considered to be accurate. By 1659 the property had been acquired by the
Hales family who retained it until the 19th century. During their tenure the
palace was used as a brewery, maltings and public house known as The Old
Palace, with the courtyard laid out for bowls and skittles, and a cockpit in
the Fyndon Gate. The remaining area of the precinct was leased as grazing
land with the church of St Pancras being converted to a farmhouse.
Parcels of land were sold in 1791, that to the south - the old lay
cemetery area - for the building of the Kent and Canterbury Hospital
(opened 1793), while the portion to the east became the site of the
County Gaol and House of Correction (opened 1808). The remainder of the
site was sold in lots to pay off family debts in 1804 and 1805. A need
for further accommodation for the King's School prompted the Dean and
Chapter of Canterbury Cathedral to consider purchasing the brewery in
1834, a scheme which failed due to legal difficulties, and it was
eventually acquired, 10 years later, by Alexander James Beresford Hope
with a view to some degree of restoration and reuse. His initial
purchase led to the foundation, under the auspices of Edward Coleridge,
of St Augustine's College, an establishment for the training of
missionaries, with new buildings erected by architect William Butterfield
to the north west of the church ruins between 1845 and 1848.
Butterfield's ranges still stand (Listed Grade II) following the line of
the inner court boundaries and designed to reflect the ambience of the
monastic establishment and to incorporate some elements of the original
layout (the Fyndon and cemetery gates, both Listed Grade I). The
hospital, having closed in 1937 and seen subsequent use as a technical
college, was demolished in 1971 allowing excavations to take place before
the area was opened as a garden in 1977. The main area of ruins was
placed in State Guardianship in 1938, with further land being included in
1941, 1960 and 1974 following the demolition of the hospital. In 1996
the public gardens alongside Longport were incorporated and the whole
southern part of the monastic precinct, including the building remains
around the cloister, is now managed by English Heritage.
The northern part of the site (north of Butterfield's ranges) was sold
for the development of a teacher training college (now Christ Church
College) in 1961. Excavations have taken place in the area towards North
Holmes Road since 1983 as the development advanced. This work has
provided evidence that the earliest church was probably built in an area
of Saxon occupation, including a site of pre-abbey industrial activity in
the form of metal working. Further west, towards Havelock Street, an
excavation in 1987 revealed Saxon occupation extending beyond the western
side of the outer court, and showed evidence of occupation dating from
the Bronze Age and Neolithic period - the earliest yet known within the
area of the city.
The abbey ruins (Listed Grade I), the medieval undercroft beneath the
chapel incorporated in Butterfield's north-south range, sections of
medieval walls alongside Longport and to the east of St Pancras' Chapel
and the western gable of the cellarer's range (all Listed Grade II) are
included in the scheduling. All other structures, both modern and
Listed, are excluded from the scheduling together with all fences,
display, security and custodial fittings and facilities, modern services
and the surfaces of all paths, tracks and hardstandings. However, the
ground beneath these features is included in the scheduling.
MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
