Monument record 17/1 - Stanlow Abbey Cistercian monastery and monastic grange - Monastic Grange

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ47 NW 1 (Index). SCH2487.

Stanlow Abbey became a grange of Whalley Abbey when the monastic community moved there at the end of the 13th century. It was so called in 1535. At the dissolution it passed into the hands of Sir Richard Cotton and was sold to Sir John Poole of Poole

<2> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Vol.II p.398- 400 (Book). SCH1389.

<3> Williams C & McKinder K, 1986, Stanlow Abbey, Liverpool University Archaeology Newsletter, Vol 2 (Article in Newsletter). SCH2829.

Survey in 1985-6 identified the remains of four buildings. The north wall, with a maximum height of 1.5m, appeared to be the only portion of the wall existing from the original building, with the sandstone being extremely weathered, as opposed to the sandstone of subsequent farm buildings which was dressed and not extensively weathered. A doorway was observed in the north-east corner, with a collapsed moulded lintel and upright pillars in a state of decay. A mason's mark, comprising two adjacent crosses, was evident on the right-hand pillar. The subterranean tunnel was located, cut into sandstone and lined with four courses of sandstone blocks; it was blocked with spoil at a distance of 7m from entrance. It is thought that it formed part of the main drain and emerged in the River Gowy. Despite the building being described of one of splendour, no evidence was found of ornamental masonry or window tracery. Pieces of cylindrical sandstone were sample borings from the 1929 dock construction.

Levels were established across the site from north to south and comparison to data provided by the Oceanographic Dept., Bidston, of probable tidal heights over the life of the Abbey, indicated that flooding did not occur in the main buildings of the Abbey, which is at odds with the claim of the monks' the the site was subject to continuous flooding. (see also source 4)

<4> Williams C & McKinder K, 1985-6, Draft Survey Report on Stanlow Abbey (Unpublished Report). SCH8988.

<5> English Heritage, Various, Old/Original Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Description), 22590 (Scheduling Record). SCH4606.

<5> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), 22590 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

Site had become a grange of Whalley Abbey before the middle of the 14th century and there is documentary evidence for sheep farming during the 13th and 14th centuries. Listed as a grange in 1535. Despite re-use of the site, in-situ and re-used medieval fabric survives and further evidence of the abbey and grange will exist beneath the demolished farmhouse, outbuildings and farmyard

<6> Roberts M, 1967, Survey of Stanlow Abbey, 24/03/1967 (Unpublished Report). SCH8987.

<7> Ainsworth, S, 2010, Stanlow Abbey, Cheshire - Scheduled Ancient Monument 22590: Archaeological survey assessment (Unpublished Report). SCH6776.

In 2010 an archaeological survey assessment was undertaken by English Heritage (now Historic England) with a view to undertaking survey and analysis to aid future management of the site, which is on the Heritage at Risk Register.

The site of Stanlow Abbey is located on Stanlow Point, a low-lying Keuper Sandstone outcrop which juts out northwards into the Mersey Estuary, immediately on the west side of the River Gowy. It now falls within the northern part of the extensive Oil Refinery complex and there is no public access to the site. Although originally Stanlow Point was a promontory projecting out into tidal mudflats, it is now an island which has been separated from the main part of the refinery complex by the creation of the Manchester Ship Canal in the late 19th century. The island itself is a mixture of industrial buildings and structures (many derelict), large artificial earthen spoil mounds, and dense scrub, undergrowth and tree cover. At the time of the reconnaissance visit, the vegetation cover was at its densest and large areas of brambles particularly prevented a full perambulation and analysis of the site and the extent of the surviving remains. As a result, a comprehensive assessment of the survival of earthworks and structures was not possible at that time, although sufficient remains were observed to allow a survey strategy appropriate to the site to be formulated.

Based on the interpretation of the map evidence and the single reconnaissance visit it is not possible to propose a considered interpretation of the original monastic remains given the masking of the vegetation in its current state. However, the few sections of standing fabric, axis of the walls, and the ground topography suggest two alternative layouts may be evidenced by the remains. Details of the two possible layouts and maps overlain with known Cistercian sites are detailed in this report.

<8> Ainsworth, S, 2012, Stanlow Abbey: A Twenty-First Century Assessment of a Twelfth-Century Cistercian Monastery (Article in Book). SCH8989.