Monument record TR 15 NE 309 - Crypt and presbytery St Augustine's Abbey

Summary

Crypt in St Augustine's Abbey Church constructed during the late 11th century by Abbots Scolland and Wido. This underlay the whole east arm of the abbey church and comprised a main apsidal chamber surrounded by an ambulatory passage which gave access to three semicircular chapels. The central area of the crypt was divided into three alleys by two rows of columns, of which two remain. The central curved apsidal chapel was squared off, possibly in the 14th century and the wall-plaster painted. Abbot Scolland and Abbot Wulfric were buried in this crypt. The arch and structure over the central (east) chapel was restored in 1937.

Location

Grid reference TR 1550 5775 (point) FCE
Map sheet TR15NE
County KENT
District CANTERBURY, KENT
Civil Parish CANTERBURY, CANTERBURY, KENT

Map

Find a placename, postcode or grid reference

Map layers

Base layers

Info

Record list

Tools

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

(TR 15515775) The crypt, St Augustine's Abbey Church, commenced 1070-3 by Abbot Scotland. It was completed by Wido, who died in 1091. Excavations from 1900-1902 by Routledge and Evans revealed the crypt in a ruined state - its ashlar facing gone but remains of vaulting and walls standing to a considerable height in some places. The presbytery above consisted of four straight bays with an apse of seven bays. There were three radiating chapels. Nothing of it now survives. (1-8) Crypt excavated 1974-5. (9) A substantial part of the fallen S wall of the presbytery, mostly of the late C12 was found during excavations in 1974-5. (10) Additional reference (see illustration card for plans). (11)


<1> Arch Cant 25 1903 238-243 photos (CF Routledge) (OS Card Reference). SKE34898.

<2> Arch Cant 26 1904 2-5 plan photos (S Evans) (OS Card Reference). SKE34904.

<3> Arch J 63 1906 107-110 plan (J Bilson) (OS Card Reference). SKE36671.

<4> Arch 66 1915 383 plan (W St John Hope) (OS Card Reference). SKE34444.

<5> Arch Cant 35 1921 119-121 (RU Potts) (OS Card Reference). SKE35032.

<6> St Augustine's Abbey DOE Handbook 1955 15-17 (A Clapham) (OS Card Reference). SKE49554.

<7> Md Arch 22 1978 plan facing p30 (A Saunders) (OS Card Reference). SKE46625.

<8> Md Art and Archit of Canterbury before 1220 1982 1 2 7 8-9 15-16 (R Gem) (OS Card Reference). SKE46655.

<9> Arch Cant 100 1984 336 343 (M Sparks) (OS Card Reference). SKE34542.

<10> St Augustine's Abbey:Rpt on Excavs 1960-78:KAS Mon IV 1988 40 45-53 57-59 figs 10&15 (S Sherlock H W (OS Card Reference). SKE49602.

<11> St Augustine's Abbey Eng Heritage Handbook 1988 22-25 plan (M Sparks) (OS Card Reference). SKE49570.

Sources/Archives (11)

  • <1> OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 25 1903 238-243 photos (CF Routledge).
  • <2> OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 26 1904 2-5 plan photos (S Evans).
  • <3> OS Card Reference: Arch J 63 1906 107-110 plan (J Bilson).
  • <4> OS Card Reference: Arch 66 1915 383 plan (W St John Hope).
  • <5> OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 35 1921 119-121 (RU Potts).
  • <6> OS Card Reference: St Augustine's Abbey DOE Handbook 1955 15-17 (A Clapham).
  • <7> OS Card Reference: Md Arch 22 1978 plan facing p30 (A Saunders).
  • <8> OS Card Reference: Md Art and Archit of Canterbury before 1220 1982 1 2 7 8-9 15-16 (R Gem).
  • <9> OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 100 1984 336 343 (M Sparks).
  • <10> OS Card Reference: St Augustine's Abbey:Rpt on Excavs 1960-78:KAS Mon IV 1988 40 45-53 57-59 figs 10&15 (S Sherlock H W.
  • <11>XY OS Card Reference: St Augustine's Abbey Eng Heritage Handbook 1988 22-25 plan (M Sparks). [Mapped feature: #43583 Crypt, ]

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Record last edited

Jan 17 2022 1:02PM