Scheduled Monument: The Benedictine Abbey of St John (1015015)

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Authority Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)
Date assigned 22 January 1965
Date last amended 31 January 1997

Description

The monument includes the buried and visible remains of the Benedictine Abbey of St John which is located on the southern outskirts of Colchester town centre, largely within the grounds of the Garrison Officer’s Club. Also included in the scheduling are the buried remains of a small pre-Conquest church which preceded the foundation of the monastery, and part of one of the extensive extra-mural cemeteries associated with the Roman town and later subsumed within the area of the monastic precinct. In addition, the monument includes the buried remains of a 17th century house established after the Dissolution of the abbey and the remains of its associated formal gardens, some of whose terraces are still visible within the club grounds. The Roman cemetery was discovered in 1972 prior to the construction of the St Botolph’s Circus. The excavation uncovered 34 inhumations on the south west side of the present roundabout (in the north eastern corner of the later precinct) which were dated from coin evidence, pottery and other grave goods to the period around AD 270. Although these burials were removed, the cemetery to which they belong is thought to extend further south within the area of the former monastic precinct. <1> For further detail, see the full scheduling description.

External Links (1)

Sources (3)

  • Evaluation Report: Wightman, Adam (CAT). 2011. St Johns Abbey church: An evaluation at the Garrison Officers Club, St Johns Green, Colchester, Essex.. The Benedictine Abbey of St John 1015015.
  • Scheduling record: Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). 1997. The Benedictine Abbey of St John.
  • Watching Brief Report: Wightman, Adam (CAT). 2013. Archaeological monitoring during the installation of floodlights at the Colchester Garrison Officers’ Club, St John’s Green, Colchester, Essex.. The Benedictine Abbey of St John 1015015.

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred TL 9978 2467 (246m by 261m)
Map sheet TL92SE
Non Parish Area COLCHESTER, COLCHESTER, ESSEX

Related Monuments/Buildings (30)

Record last edited

Oct 8 2020 7:54AM

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