Monument record 758/1/6 - Vale Royal Abbey Cloister

<1> McNeil R & Turner RC, 1988, An Architectural and Topographical Study of Vale Royal Abbey (Article in Journal). SCH250.

The west range of the cloister in Cistercian Abbeys traditionally had the lay brothers' dormitory over the cellarer's store. The west range of Vale Royal is not so straightforward. The cloister appears to be contained within the range and there is no vaulting of the cellarer's store. At first floor, the roof tells a very complicated story. The earliest phase shows as a single studded truss at the south end, apparently on a timber-framed storey. The second phase of roof is of at least ll bays with massive plain trusses. Both these are probably monastic, but their function is obscure. The whole range is converted into a first floor great hall, probably at the Dissolution. The masonry to the first floor may date from the reign of Edward I.

<2> Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (RCHME), 1977, Vale Royal Abbey (Book). SCH3544.

<3> Various, Cheshire History, 15/18-22 McNeil R 1985 (Journal/Periodical). SCH811.

<4> County Historic Environment Record, 1973-1985, Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin, 10/24-27 McNeil R 1985 (Journal/Periodical). SCH565.

<5> Lancaster University Archaeological Unit, 1997, Vale Royal Abbey, Cheshire: Sheduled Area, Drain Excavation Report, R2184 (Client Report). SCH4037.

In 1997 excavations were undertaken at Vale Royal Abbey in advance of the laying of a new sewerage system at the back of Great House, in the area of the former monastic cloisters, which lie within the scheduled area. A total of four trenches were excavated along the line of the proposed sewers running between the existing house and the extant drainage system.

In all four trenches recent disturbance was encountered, probably associated with the installation of an earlier drainage system associated with the Great House. In Trench 1 the footings of an early wall were recorded. In Trenches 1, 3 and 4 a layer of orange sandstone rubble was encountered which could be associated with the post-dissolution demolition of the abbey buildings or the construction of the present house.