Monument record 17/2 - Stanlow Abbey Cistercian monastery and monastic grange - Post Medieval farmhouse

<1> Williams C & McKinder K, 1986, Stanlow Abbey, Liverpool University Archaeology Newsletter, Vol 2 (Article in Newsletter). SCH2829.

The remains of a farmstead begun c.1750 on the site of Stanlow Abbey. The buildings are of brick on stone foundations and incorporate some fragments of the grange buildings and re-used monastic masonry. Arranged around 3 sides of a sunken courtyard, the buildings stand to several courses high, having been levelled in the 1950s. The whole area is now heavily overgrown

<2> Young H E, 1909, A Perambulation of the Hundred of Wirral, /66-73 (Book). SCH102.

Photographs of the site in the early 20th century

<3> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, 2/398-400 (Y) (Book). SCH1389.

<4> English Heritage, Various, Old/Original Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Description), 22590 (Scheduling Record). SCH4606.

<4> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), 22590 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

Formerly contained 2 ancient doorways (3) only one of which survives. Surviving sandstone walls were re-used as part of the farmhouse and adjacent outbuildings.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

<5> Ainsworth, S, 2010, Stanlow Abbey, Cheshire - Scheduled Ancient Monument 22590: Archaeological survey assessment (Unpublished Report). SCH6776.

Around the north-east corner of the former courtyard, the majority of the most obvious collapsed
walls and cellars relate to Stanlow House and farmyard buildings as identified on the mapping,
although some base courses visible may indicate earlier re-used wall lines. These later structures are a
mix of dressed stone and brick and use of slate for roofing. Although collapsed, this area is largely
free of dense brambles etc which allow the plan-form of the structures to be seen reasonably well.
There is also a wealth of abandoned cultural material on the surface (pottery, artefacts etc) as well as
farmyard debris and architectural fabric such as elaborate wrought-iron window frames.

<6> Ainsworth, S, 2012, Stanlow Abbey: A Twenty-First Century Assessment of a Twelfth-Century Cistercian Monastery (Article in Book). SCH8989.