Post by Les on Jan 27, 2021 9:45:30 GMT
Lesnes Abbey
the area of Lesnes, close to the town of Bexley, passed into the possession of Bishop Odo in the Domesday Survey as Loisnes in the Hundred of Litlelai.
The year 1178 saw the foundation of the Abbey of St Mary and St Thomas the Martyr at Lesnes.
Lesnes Abbey, as it is known, was founded by Richard de Luci, Chief Justiciar of England, in 1178.
This is thought to have been in penance for the murder of Thomas Becket,in which he was involved.
In 1179, de Luci resigned his office and retired to the abbey, where he died three months later. He was buried in the chapter house.
The Abbey was in the north of an ancient but long-managed Lesnes Abbey Woods that are named after it.
where the land rises above what would originally have been marshland.
In 1381 Abel Ker of Erith led a local uprising linked to the famous Peasants' Revolt. It actually began in Essex
but a mob from Erith burst into nearby Lesnes Abbey and forced the abbot to swear an oath to support them. After this they marched to Maidstone to join the main body of men led by Wat Tyler.
The Abbott of Lesnes Abbey was an important local landlord, and took a leading part in draining the marshland.
This and the cost of maintaining river embankments was one of the reasons given for the Abbey's chronic financial difficulties.
It never became a large community, and was closed by Cardinal Wolsey in 1525, under a licence to suppress monasteries of less
than seven inmates.
It was one of the first monasteries to be closed after the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1534, and the monastic buildings were all pulled down, except for the Abbott's Lodging.
Henry Cooke acquired the site in 1541 and it eventually passed to Sir John Hippersley who salvaged building materials.
Then he sold the property to Thomas Hawes of London in 1632.
It was then bequeathed to Christ's Hospital in 1633. Some of the stone is said to have been used in the construction of
Hall Place in Bexley.
The abbey was effectively lost and the area became farmland. with the abbot's house forming part of a farmhouse.
It has been restored to show some of the walls and the entire outline of the abbey is visible giving a good idea
of the size and atmosphere of the original place.
It is on the Green Chain Walk and surrounded by parkland and an ornamental garden. There is a cafe and a small exhibition
of the abbey and also toilet facilities for visitors.
There is a large externally propped mulberry tree (Morus nigra) at the northern side of the abbey.
The site was excavated by Woolwich & District Antiquarian Society in about 1909 to 1910.
Some archaeological finds from the Abbey's site are displayed in Greenwich Heritage Centre, Artillery Square at Woolwich SE18 4DX,
others are further east in the museum in Erith Library 100 High Street DA8 1SL. The "Missale de Lesnes" is in the library of the
Victoria & Albert Museum in South Kensington, London.
The former London County Council purchased the site of the ruins in 1930, which were opened to the public as a park in 1931.
Since 1986, the site has been the property of the London Borough of Bexley. A branch of the Green Chain Walk passes the ruins
on its way from Oxleas Wood to Thamesmead riverside.
the area of Lesnes, close to the town of Bexley, passed into the possession of Bishop Odo in the Domesday Survey as Loisnes in the Hundred of Litlelai.
The year 1178 saw the foundation of the Abbey of St Mary and St Thomas the Martyr at Lesnes.
Lesnes Abbey, as it is known, was founded by Richard de Luci, Chief Justiciar of England, in 1178.
This is thought to have been in penance for the murder of Thomas Becket,in which he was involved.
In 1179, de Luci resigned his office and retired to the abbey, where he died three months later. He was buried in the chapter house.
The Abbey was in the north of an ancient but long-managed Lesnes Abbey Woods that are named after it.
where the land rises above what would originally have been marshland.
In 1381 Abel Ker of Erith led a local uprising linked to the famous Peasants' Revolt. It actually began in Essex
but a mob from Erith burst into nearby Lesnes Abbey and forced the abbot to swear an oath to support them. After this they marched to Maidstone to join the main body of men led by Wat Tyler.
The Abbott of Lesnes Abbey was an important local landlord, and took a leading part in draining the marshland.
This and the cost of maintaining river embankments was one of the reasons given for the Abbey's chronic financial difficulties.
It never became a large community, and was closed by Cardinal Wolsey in 1525, under a licence to suppress monasteries of less
than seven inmates.
It was one of the first monasteries to be closed after the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1534, and the monastic buildings were all pulled down, except for the Abbott's Lodging.
Henry Cooke acquired the site in 1541 and it eventually passed to Sir John Hippersley who salvaged building materials.
Then he sold the property to Thomas Hawes of London in 1632.
It was then bequeathed to Christ's Hospital in 1633. Some of the stone is said to have been used in the construction of
Hall Place in Bexley.
The abbey was effectively lost and the area became farmland. with the abbot's house forming part of a farmhouse.
It has been restored to show some of the walls and the entire outline of the abbey is visible giving a good idea
of the size and atmosphere of the original place.
It is on the Green Chain Walk and surrounded by parkland and an ornamental garden. There is a cafe and a small exhibition
of the abbey and also toilet facilities for visitors.
There is a large externally propped mulberry tree (Morus nigra) at the northern side of the abbey.
The site was excavated by Woolwich & District Antiquarian Society in about 1909 to 1910.
Some archaeological finds from the Abbey's site are displayed in Greenwich Heritage Centre, Artillery Square at Woolwich SE18 4DX,
others are further east in the museum in Erith Library 100 High Street DA8 1SL. The "Missale de Lesnes" is in the library of the
Victoria & Albert Museum in South Kensington, London.
The former London County Council purchased the site of the ruins in 1930, which were opened to the public as a park in 1931.
Since 1986, the site has been the property of the London Borough of Bexley. A branch of the Green Chain Walk passes the ruins
on its way from Oxleas Wood to Thamesmead riverside.