Images of Lesnes Abbey, Erith, Kent
Images of Lesnes Abbey, Erith, Kent
Lesnes Abbey, founded by Richard de Lucy on 11th June 1178
Lesnes Abbey - view of the ruins from the east
Door in west wall of Cloister ....... ....... ....... Squint window to Frater pulpit stairs
Door to west Cloister wall and adjacent wall to north aisle of Church with putlock holes
East wall of sub-vault below Dorter (Dormitory) from outside
Stairs leading to Cloister from within Dorter sub-vault
North wall of Frater (Refectory) with bay tree mentioned by Stukeley and pulpit steps
Base of jamb to left side of Chapter House entrance doorway
Coffin purported to be that of the founder, Richard de Lucy in the Presbytery
The north-west and south-west piers of the central tower
Decorated encaustic tiles in the pavement adjacent to the south-west tower pier
The south-west pier of the central tower is the best preserved
Stone responds in the wall to the north-west aisle of the Church
The distinctive 'stiff-leaf' design used extensively on all column bases and responds
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Today Lesnes Abbey is in ruins. The demolition and clearance of the site for building stone was efficiently carried out after its dissolution on 1st April 1525. Only contemporary or slightly earlier Abbeys such as Romsey Abbey near Winchester or Buildwas Abbey can give an indication of its original scale. A consistent pillar or column base was used throughout the church with a 'stiff leaf' design at the corners; unusual in England and only found at Dunstable Priory and St.Cross Hospital, Winchester, both constructed around this date. The construction of the church at St.Cross commenced just 25 years earlier and is probably the closest representation of how Lesnes Abbey would have looked when completed. View
exterior of the contemporary St. Cross, Winchester Return to full details about Lesnes Abbey The Family of de Lucy in the 12th Century Further information on the genealogy of the ancient de Lucy family |
Published by Norman Lucey
e-mail: norman@lucey.net
© Copyright 2009, Norman Lucey. All rights reserved.
This page created 8th June 2009
Images of Lesnes Abbey, Erith, Kent - minor revision 7th June 2020