Listing Text

MEREVALE MEREVALE LANE
SP29NE (South-east side)
1/122 Remains of Merevale Abbey
23/11/51 (Formerly listed as Remains of
Merevale Abbey in garden of
farm)
GV II*
Abbey ruins. C13. Regular coursed sandstone. The remains consist principally of
the north and south walls of the Refectory. The north wall rises to
approximately 6 metres high on the left. 10 bar-stop-chamfered buttresses have
moulded plinth and gablets. The wall drops to about 1.25 metres high. On the
right is another large section of wall surrounding the elaborately moulded
portal to the transept, of 3 orders with remains of nook-shafts. Beyond is a
smaller, simpler archway of 2 chamfered orders; a section of curved wall to the
right, probably largely rebuilt, is attached to Abbey Farmhouse (q.v.). Inside,
the portal has a round arch and hood mould. To the right the wall has a high
dado and 6 closely-set attached shafts with moulded bases and fillets; some
retain moulded capitals. South wall has high splay and moulded plinth and
remains of buttresses to left and right. Slight projection containing reading
pulpit and staircase is approximately 4 metres high. Low section of wall to
right. Inside is a moulded doorway with hood mould, the stone staircase with 2
quatrefoil peep-holes, and traces of 2 shafts of the pulpit. Merevale Abbey was
a Cistercian house founded in 1148 by Robert, Earl Ferrers. Scheduled ancient
monument.
(Buildings of England: Warwickshire: p351; VCH: Warwickshire: Vol IV, p143)

Listing NGR: SP2922797783