Monument record TR 15 NE 251 - South-West Tower St Augustine's Abbey

Summary

South-west tower of St Augustine's Abbey Church. One of twin towers flanking the last bays of the nave and considered to be the conception of Abbot Wido replacing Abbot Scolland's original intention for the west end. The foundations of the south west tower were revealed by excavations in 1977. It seems likely that Wido planned the towers, laid the foundations and built the footings for them but the actual superstructures may not have been completed until after his death probably by Hugh de Fleury. Nothing above floor levels now survives of the tower. It appears to have developed a weakness by the 14th century and a clasping buttress was added to consolidate the tower and the south aisle wall. This matched another clasping buttress on the south west corner. It has been assumed that the form and decoration of this tower paralleled that of the north-west tower (see TR 15 NE 227). The south west tower was demolished in 1793.

Location

Grid reference TR 1540 5775 (point) FCE
Map sheet TR15NE
County KENT
District CANTERBURY, KENT
Civil Parish CANTERBURY, CANTERBURY, KENT

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Full Description

TR 154579: The SW tower of St Augustine's Abbey Church is shown as a ruin on a drawing by Daniel King, 1655 and the Gentleman's Magazine of July 1793 gives an account of its demolition. It was excavated in 1977 by HM Woods. On the S side the face and a large part of the flint core had been wrenched from the surviving base and foundations. The E wall survives 1.31m high above the Norman ground level. It is faced with ragstone, ashlar-toothed into the core in Norman style. (1) As source 1. (2) The SW tower was part of a twin-towered design (with TR 15 NE 227) probably by Wido, who became Abbot in 1087. He retained 2 sides of a Saxon tower (TR 15 NE 250) as a clasping buttress to the SW corner of the new tower. By the 14th century the SW tower and adjoining S aisle wall had developed a weakness and another massive buttress was added to the SE corner. A major rebuilding may have taken place in the 15th century/16th century. Nothing of the tower now survives above floor level. (3) Abbot Wido laid the foundations for the tower but it was probably completed by his successor Abbot Hugh of Fleury. (4) (TR 15415775) SW tower shown on map diagram (see Illustration Card). (5) Additional reference. (6)


<1> Md Arch 22 1976 158-9 (Webster Cherry) (OS Card Reference). SKE46609.

<2> Arch Cant 93 1977 204-5 (H Woods) (OS Card Reference). SKE36119.

<3> St Augustine's Abbey Rpt on Excavs 1960-78 KAS Mon IV 1988 13-15 82-85 86 (D Sherlock H Woods) (OS Card Reference). SKE49588.

<4> Md Art and Archit 1982 122-4 (H Woods) (OS Card Reference). SKE46653.

<5> OS Map diagram of St Augustine's Abbey Undated (OS Card Reference). SKE48420.

<6> St Augustine's Abbey Eng Heritage Handbook 1988 9 17 (M Sparks) (OS Card Reference). SKE49582.

Sources/Archives (6)

  • <1> OS Card Reference: Md Arch 22 1976 158-9 (Webster Cherry).
  • <2>XY OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 93 1977 204-5 (H Woods). [Mapped feature: #43529 Tower, ]
  • <3> OS Card Reference: St Augustine's Abbey Rpt on Excavs 1960-78 KAS Mon IV 1988 13-15 82-85 86 (D Sherlock H Woods).
  • <4> OS Card Reference: Md Art and Archit 1982 122-4 (H Woods).
  • <5> OS Card Reference: OS Map diagram of St Augustine's Abbey Undated.
  • <6> OS Card Reference: St Augustine's Abbey Eng Heritage Handbook 1988 9 17 (M Sparks).

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Record last edited

Jan 11 2022 6:21PM