Monument record 346/1 - Combermere Abbey

Combermere Abbey. Founded as Savignac house in 1133 by Hugh Malbank, 2nd Baron of Wich Malbank. Later Cistercian Abbey and in 1156 became the daughter house of Buildwas Abbey, Salop. Only reference to actual building in 1220. Abbey surrended in 1538 when valued at 268 pounds, 8 shillings & four-and-a-half pence. In 1539 the monastery, with church, steeple, graveyard and its lands, were granted to George Cotton. Abbey building on level terrace in south facing hill slope. Claustral buildings south of church. Surviving portions are the south cloister and adjacent rooms, including those in south- west corner, probably kitchens, and short length of east range. South range includes late medieval refectory with hammerbeam roof and arms of the abbey on each spandrel. Abutting east end of south side of refectory is a smaller room which may have been a misercord (1). Ormerod refers to refectory in perfect order and attests to stone walls 5ft thick. Brick engraving of 1727 which shows remains of cloister arcade (2). Pevsner records the findings of three Gothic arches on the ground floor and believes the refectory to be at that level (5). The alignment of the present ranges of buildings do not follow the calendar points. The south range of authority (1) is aligned north-west and south-east. The 'refectory' roof shows there to be a dias end and a screens passage implying it was the Abbot's Great Hall belonging to the west range (6). The base of the sundial,5m to south-east of the Abbey, is the base or capital of a yellow sandstone. Romanesque column probably from the abbey church (7). Other carved and moulded stones from the site are now part of the rockery of Viscountess Garnock's Mother in Shropshire (8).

<1> Harris, B E (ed), 1980, A History of the County of Chester: Volume III, p.150-6 (Book). SCH6524.

<2> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Ormerod G 1882 3/406-7 (Book). SCH1389.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ 54 SE 2 (Index). SCH2487.

<4> Knowles, D & Hadcock, RN, 1953, Medieval Religious Houses: England and Wales, /107 (Book). SCH2177.

<5> Pevsner N & Hubbard E, 1971, The Buildings of England: Cheshire, /181 (Book). SCH3078.

<6> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Turner R C 1987 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

<7> Department of the Environment, 1971-2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Report). SCH1934.

<8> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Bellamy M 1985 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.