Cockersand Abbey, Thurnham, Lancashire: An Analytical Earthwork Survey
Author(s): Andrew Burn, Marcus Jecock, A Oswald
In 2008, English Heritage carried out an analytical survey of the earthwork remains of the Premonstratensian Abbey of St Mary-in-the-Marsh at Cockersand, Lancashire. The abbey, which originated as a hermitage in around 1180, occupies an outcrop of sandstone lying to the south of the broad mouth of the River Lune and stands only 4.8m above mean high tide level. By 2007, dilapidation of the standing remains and active coastal erosion had resulted in the site being assessed as at ‘High Risk’ in English Heritage's 'Heritage at Risk Register' for the North-West Region. Following this, English Heritage's Regional Advice and Grants Team provided grant-aid for urgent works to the standing Chapter House and requested the present survey of its environs. The conventual area had been extensively excavated between 1922 and 1927 and some remote sensing work was undertaken in 1997, followed by preparation of a conservation assessment of the site in 2004. The present investigation builds on the previous work, clarifying the extent and layout of the inner and outer precincts and setting the abbey in its wider context. The survey also offers insights into the rate and nature of past coastal erosion. It will help to inform advice to the owners on the management of the site and feed in to the current review of coastline policy via the North-West Shoreline Management Plan.
- Report Number:
- 55/2009
- Series:
- Research Department Reports
- Pages:
- 31
- Keywords:
- Landscape Park Medieval Survey
