Egglestone Abbey

 English Heritage's Archaeological Survey & Investigation Team carried out a detailed survey of the earthworks in the fields surrounding Egglestone Abbey, overlooking the River Tees near Barnard Castle in County Durham. The investigation was requested by English Heritage's Conservation Team in order to reach the best possible understanding of these earthworks and the whole landscape surrounding the abbey, so as to provide a firm foundation for any future management proposals.

 The principal remains of the Premonstratensian monastic house, founded at some point between 1168 and 1198, are the ruins of the abbey church and its adjoining cloister. These buildings are protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and are cared for by English Heritage. However, the nearby earthworks, whose extent and relationship to the Abbey was not clear until the completion of the analytical survey, are not protected and are therefore at risk of destruction. The new survey allows this issue to be addressed.

 The investigation revealed new information about the medieval water supply, access routes to the abbey and the boundary of the monastic precinct. Earthworks were also identified which may have defined the compartments of a grand garden belonging to a great private house that was built in the ruins of the cloister range on the north side of the abbey church after the abbey was Dissolved by Henry VIII. The house was eventually abandoned in the mid-19th century. In addition, the survey showed that the landscape was re-organised after 1770, when the Morritt family bought the abbey and made use of the remains of the medieval buildings as an ornamental feature in their estate.

Egglestone Abbey is cared for English Heritage and is open to the public.

For further information please contact Al Oswald at English Heritage's York Office on 01904 601901 or e-mail: al.oswald@english-heritage.org.uk

 A copy of the full report on the archaeological investigation (ref: AI/10/2001) can be ordered on-line or can be downloaded below (2MB). This document requires Adobe Acrobat Viewer to display. This is free software available from Adobe - download Acrobat here.