Monument record 66/1/0 - Norton Priory - Augustinian Abbey

Norton Priory was founded in 1133 by William Fitz Nigel, Baron of Halton, as a priory of Augustinian Canons. Within a short time, work had begun at Norton. There was a continuous history of building until the Dissolution. The priory was raised to the status of an abbey in 1391, confirmed in 1422.

Research excavations at Norton Priory between 1970 and 1987 have resulted in one of the most comprehensively excavated monastic sites in England. There have been several attempts to assess the site archive for these excavations, producing large quantities of information on the various buildings of the monastic precinct. In all, 122 trenches were excavated over the main precinct alongside an additional programme of excavation and geophysical survey in the adjacent playing fields comprising an extra 15 trenches.

The excavations revealed eight phases of construction of the medieval priory beginning in the mid 12th century until the Dissolution of the site in 1539.

Phase 1 dates to the mid 12th century and represents the earliest construction on site including a possible early church (CHER 66/1/1), an early timber framed hall or gatehouse (CHER 66/1/2), two successive groups of timber framed buildings to the south (CHER 66/1/3; 66/1/4) probably comprising the early residences, the subsequent stone phase priory church (CHER 66/1/7) and the beginnings of a series of moated enclosures and drainage systems (CHER 66/1/6). Although no evidence was encountered during the excavations, an outer courtyard was suggested between the timber hall/gatehouse and the southern grouping of timber buildings. An early bell foundry was also encountered (CHER 66/1/14) that may have been used to cast the original bell for the church.

Phase 2 dates to the mid third quarter of the 12th century and represents early expansion and consolidation of the precinct. This included the addition of the first cloister (CHER 66/1/8), the West Range (CHER 66/1/9) including the undercroft, South Range representing the refectory (CHE 66/1/10) and the East Range including the Chapter House and Dormitory (CHER 66/1/11). This phase also saw the addition of the first Reredorter (CHER 66/1/12) and the first Kitchen (CHER 66/1/13). The church was extended in this phase and the canon’s graveyard may have been in use to the east of the complex.

Phase 3 dates to the later 12th century and included the second reredorter, the main drain to the south of the site, extensions to the priory church and rebuilding of the cloister and surrounding ranges.

Phase 4 is characterised by the effects of the 1236 fire at Norton, beginning in the kitchens it apparently damaged a significant proportion of the main complex with evidence of fire damage as far as the priory church. A trackway (CHER 66/1/5) was added to the west of the site, providing the main access into the complex.

Phase 5 dates to the first half of the 13th century and includes a second bell foundry (CHER 66/1/15) to the west, possibly used to provide a new bell for the church. A new kitchen was built on the site of the earlier version and extensions were made to the church and east range. The Guest Quarters immediately south of the kitchens were also built in this phase (CHER 66/1/18).

Phase 6 dates to the late 13th to early 14th century and represents a period of consolidation and display at Norton with the addition of a highly ornate mosaic tile floor across the priory church. The tiles were evidently produced on site with the excavation of a tile kiln some distance to the north (CHER 66/1/16). A new seven sided structure was added to the East Range and a Reliquary added to the east end of the priory church.

Phase 7 dates to the 15th century and saw Norton Priory elevated to the status of an abbey. An Abbot’s Tower was added to the front of the West Range and a north aisle to the priory church.

Phase 8 saw only limited alteration in the early 16th century including a contraction of the South Dormitory Range and the consolidation of the cloister through the enclosure of the cloister walk.

The Dissolution proved catastrophic to the priory with comprehensive demolition and robbing of the vast majority of the site leaving only the West Range, Kitchens and some of the Guest Quarters still standing.

<1> Brown, F & Howard-Davis C., 2008, Norton Priory: Monastery to Museum Excavations 1970-1987 (Monograph). SCH7585.

<2> Thompson F.H, 1971, Norton Priory : Excavation 1970 (Report). SCH2267.

<3> Greene J P, 1973, Norton Priory : Excavation 1972 (Report). SCH2269.

<4> Greene J P, 1974, Norton Priory : Excavation 1973 (Report). SCH2270.

<5> Beamont, W, 1873, A history of the Castle of Halton and the Priory or Abbey of Norton (Book). SCH7586.

<6> Greene J P, 1989, Norton Priory (Book). SCH2262.

<7> Various, Current Archaeology, Issue 31, 1972, p.216-220, Greene J P (Journal/Periodical). SCH1031.

Article discussing results of the rescue excavations in the early 1970s.

<8> Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 1883 -, Transactions of the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, Vol 128, p.97-112, Greene J P, 1979 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3293.

<9> Various, Current Archaeology, Issue 43, 1974, p.246-50, Greene J P (Journal/Periodical). SCH1031.

Article discussing results of the rescue excavations in the early 1970s.

<10> Davey P J (ed), 1977, Medieval Pottery from Excavations in the North West, p.54-9 (Monograph). SCH2158.

<11> Greene J P, 1986, Unpublished Ph.D thesis - Leeds University (Oral Communication). SCH3542.

<12> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, Vol 3, p.165-71, Harris B, 1980 (Book). SCH3556.

<13> Various, Aerial photographs, Williams S R 1982 (Aerial Photograph). SCH128.

<14> English Heritage, Various, Old/Original Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Description), 27608 (Scheduling Record). SCH4606.

<15> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), 27608, 19/06/1997 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

The scheduled area at Norton Priory was increased including the addition of the detached playing field of Norton Priory High School, located between the Priory buildings and Big Wood.

<16> Davey, P. J., 1985, Clay Pipes From Norton Priory, Liverpool University Archaeology Newsletter, Issue 1, 1985 (Article in Newsletter). SCH9623.

Summary report of 1115 fragments of clay tobacco pipe recovered during the 1971-1982 excavations at Norton Priory.

<17> Poulton Research Project Archaeo-Geophysics Group, 2003, Norton Priory Museum Trust, Runcorn, Big Field East of Church: Geophysical Report (Resistance), R2496 (Client Report). SCH4515.

Geophysical survey initially undertaken to locate grave cuts in the area directly east of the Abbey/Priory church. Considerable disturbance and high resistance readings were encountered and are possibly connected to the monastic gardens.

<18> Norton Priory Museum and Gardens, ?, Norton Priory (Booklet-Leaflet). SCH9636.

Illustrated guidebook documenting history and excavations.

<19> English Heritage, Various, Scheduled Monument Consent Letter, Two letters dated 24/06/1998; 04/08/2005 (Written Communication). SCH2963.

<20> Lancaster University Archaeological Unit, 1998, Norton Priory, Runcorn, Cheshire, R2230 (Client Report). SCH4012.

Report of an archaeological watching brief undertaken in 1998 at North Priory to test for surviving archaeological remains to the south and east of the museum building. The work was undertaken prior to the construction of an extension to house the medieval statue of St. Christopher. Two trenches were excavated, one to the south and one to the east of the museum; no structural remains were recorded, due to considerable previous landscaping to raise the ground level.

<21> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 2001, Norton Priory, Tudor Road, Manor Park, Runcorn, Cheshire, R2367 (Client Report). SCH3892.

Report of an archaeological excavation undertaken in 2001 at Norton Priory. Work comprised the excavation of a single two metre square trench close to the museum entrance. The results have shown that important archaeological features and deposits survive in this location. Sandstone rubble, probably associated with the demolition of part of the Abbey during the sixteenth century, was encountered. Part of a metalled surface of uncertain date was also observed.

<22> Stratascan, 2006, Geophysical Survey Report; Backfield, Norton Priory, Cheshire, R2643 (Client Report). SCH4762.

Report of a detailed magnetic survey and a resistance survey carried out in 2006 on land to the east of Norton Priory. Both surveys identified features of archaeological origin. The magnetometer survey highlighted a number of cut features of possible archaeological origin, potentially relating to pits or ditches. A large, linear structural remain is observed in the resistance data running east-west across the survey area, whilst a number of smaller anomalies can be seen in both the north-west and the south-west of the area, indicating further structural remains.

<23> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 2009, Subsidence in the undercroft Floor at Norton Priory, Runcorn, Cheshire: A Programme of Archaeological Investigation and Recording, R2939 (Client Report). SCH5232.

Two test trenches were excavated within the undercroft at Norton priory in order to investigate areas of floor subsidence. Investigation showed that the subsidence was due to the sinkage of the wet, organic deposit which underlay the sequence of floors and overlay natural boulder clay. Subsidence had occurred where a network of foundation walling linking the pillars supporting the vaults were absent.

<24> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 2014, Proposed New Museum Building at Norton Priory, Runcorn, Chesire. An Archaeological Evaluation., R3611 (Client Report). SCH7553.

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken in 2014 at Norton Priory, Runcorn in advance of the construction of a new museum building. Eight evaluation trenches were hand-excavated to establish the level and extent of surviving significant archaeology within the area of the new building. In several trenches significant archaeology was identified, including surfaces of indeterminate date, stone-lined and capped culverts, wall foundations, and the possible remains of the massive blockwork that once supported the 15th-century Abbot’s Tower.

<25> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 2016, Construction of a New Museum Building at Norton Priory, Runcorn, Cheshire. A Programme of Archaaeological Mitigation and Investigation, R3931 (Client Report). SCH8124.

Archaeological investigations were conducted in 2015-16 prior to the commencement of building work associated with a new museum building at Norton Priory. In order to resolve subsidence issues in the Undercroft floor, deeper excavations resulted in the identification of well-preserved timber building remains, pre-dating the stone buildings of the priory; tree-ring analysis allowed the timbers to be dated accurately to the mid-twelfth century. Elsewhere, surfaces, drains, foundations and other features relating to the stone priory and its subsequent post-Dissolution transition to a large country house, were exposed but generally left undisturbed. The retrieval of finds and the identification of activity relating to previous excavations carried out on the site during the 1970s and 1980s are also of interest.