Abbot Penny's Wall

Last updated

Abbot Penny's Wall
Abbot Penny's Wall interior 2.jpg
TypeWall
Location Abbey Park, Leicester, England
Coordinates 52°38′59″N1°08′11″W / 52.6496°N 1.1365°W / 52.6496; -1.1365
Builtc.1500, restorations in 19th, 20th and 21st centuries
Owner Leicester City Council
Listed Building – Grade I
Official nameAbbot Penny's Wall
Designated14 March 1975
Reference no.1361406
Official nameLeicester Abbey and 17th century mansion and ornamental gardens
Designated18 July 1995
Reference no.1012149
Leicestershire UK relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Location of Abbot Penny's Wall in Leicestershire

Abbot Penny's Wall is a monastic boundary wall which once partially enclosed the grounds of Leicester Abbey. It stands in Abbey Park to the west of the City of Leicester, England. The wall was built around 1500 by John Penny, Abbot of Leicester from 1496 to 1509. It is a rare example of medieval English brickwork. Restored in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, the wall is now in the care of Leicester City Council and is a Grade I listed structure and a scheduled monument.

Contents

History

Leicester Abbey was an abbey of the Augustinian order established in 1143. [1] Founded by Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester, it became one of the wealthiest and most powerful monastic houses of the Order. [2] In 1496 John Penny became abbot, while also holding office as Bishop of Bangor, and subsequently Bishop of Carlisle. [3] In around 1500, Penny ordered construction of a long boundary wall to the north and west of the abbey, which subsequently became known as Abbot Penny's Wall. [4] The attribution to Penny arises from the initials J.P., which appear in blue brick in the wall, and to John Leland, who published a record of his visit in about 1540, noting that; "This Peny made the new bricke worke in Leicester Abbay, and much of the bricke waulles". [lower-alpha 1] [5]

Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries the abbey was demolished in around 1538. [6]

The wall was restored in the 19th and 20th centuries. By the 21st century it was again in disrepair, and sections were threatened with collapse due to undermining from the roots of nearby trees. [7] A survey in 2018 [8] was followed by extensive renovations in 2020–2021. [9] The restoration cost £540,000. [10]

Architecture and description

Abbot Penny's Wall is one of the best remaining examples of Medieval English diapered brickwork. [11] Alan McWhirr, in his study of Leicestershire brick buildings, considers the wall has “some of the most elaborate diaper patterned brickwork to be found in Britain”. [11] The use of brick in Britain dates from the time of the Roman Imperium. [12] Following the Roman evacuation in the 4th century, brick building declined. The Medieval period saw a resurgence in its use as a prestige construction material. Notable examples in Leicestershire include the south towers of Ashby-de-la-Zouch Castle and Kirby Muxloe Castle. [13] Abbot Penny's Wall is built of red and blue brick with Charnwood granite. [14] In addition to John Penny’s initials, J.P., the wall contains a number of patterns picked out in blue brick. These include crosses, a chalice, various “abstract designs” and the monogram IHC. [2] It is a Grade I listed structure [14] and a scheduled monument. [2]

Notes

  1. ↑ Nikolaus Pevsner and Elizabeth Williamson, in the 2003 revised edition Leicestershire and Rutland of the Pevsner Buildings of England series, record the wall as “Boundary Wall” without referencing John Penny. Their description reads “a long stretch of red brick diapered in blue”. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jewry Wall</span> Ruined wall in Leicester, England

The Jewry Wall is a substantial ruined wall of 2nd-century Roman masonry, with two large archways, in Leicester, England. It stands alongside St Nicholas' Circle and St Nicholas' Church. It formed the west wall of a public building in Ratae Corieltauvorum, alongside public baths, the foundations of which were excavated in the 1930s and are also open to view. The wall gives its name to the adjacent Jewry Wall Museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abbey Park, Leicester</span> Public park in Leicester, England

Abbey Park is a public park in Leicester, England, through which the River Soar flows. It is owned and managed by Leicester City Council. It opened in 1882 on the flood plain of the River Soar, and expanded in 1932 to include the area west of the river that had formerly been the medieval St Mary's Abbey, still bounded by large medieval walls. The park includes the archaeological sites of the Abbey and the ruins of Cavendish House, along with a wide range of decorative and recreational parkland features.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desford</span> Human settlement in England

Desford is a village and civil parish in the Hinckley and Bosworth district, 7 miles (11 km) west of the centre of Leicester and around 7 miles north east of Hinckley. Situated on a hill approximately 400 feet above sea level, the parish includes the hamlets of Botcheston and Newtown Unthank and a scattered settlement at Lindridge. The population at the 2011 census had increased to 3,930. Desford is in the Doomsday Book of 1086 but the name itself is older than that meaning Deor's Ford suggesting an Anglo Saxon origin. Another suggestion is that it means 'ford frequented with wild animals'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Penny</span>

John Penny was an English priest, successively Bishop of Bangor, 1504–1508, and Bishop of Carlisle, 1508–1520. He was also Prior to Bradley Priory 1503–1508.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirby Muxloe Castle</span> Fortified manor house in Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire, England

Kirby Muxloe Castle, also known historically as Kirby Castle, is a ruined, fortified manor house in Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire, England. William, Lord Hastings, began work on the castle in 1480, founding it on the site of a pre-existing manor house. William was a favourite of King Edward IV and had prospered considerably during the Wars of the Roses. Work continued quickly until 1483, when William was executed during Richard, Duke of Gloucester's, seizure of the throne. His widow briefly continued the project after his death but efforts then ceased, with the castle remaining largely incomplete. Parts of the castle were inhabited for a period, before falling into ruin during the course of the 17th century. In 1912, the Commissioners of Work took over management of the site, repairing the brickwork and carrying out an archaeological survey. In the 21st century, the castle is controlled by English Heritage and open to visitors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swithland</span> Human settlement in England

Swithland is a linear village in the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. The civil parish population was put at 230 in 2004 and 217 in the 2011 census. It is in the old Charnwood Forest, between Cropston, Woodhouse and Woodhouse Eaves. It has a village hall, a parish church and a public house, the Griffin Inn. The village is known for the slate that was quarried in the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belgrave Hall</span> Queen Anne-style Grade II* listed building in Belgrave

Belgrave Hall is a Queen Anne-style Grade II* listed building in Belgrave. It is located on the northern edge of the city of Leicester.

Ellistown is a village about 2 miles (3 km) south of Coalville in North West Leicestershire, England. It is named after Colonel Joseph Joel Ellis who died in 1885. The population from the 2011 census was included in the civil parish of Ellistown and Battleflat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ewan Christian</span> British architect (1814–95)

Ewan Christian (1814–1895) was a British architect. He is most frequently noted for the restorations of Southwell Minster and Carlisle Cathedral, and the design of the National Portrait Gallery. He was Architect to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners from 1851 to 1895. Christian was elected A RIBA in 1840, FRIBA in 1850, RIBA President 1884–1886 and was awarded the Royal Gold Medal in 1887.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garendon Hall</span> Historic site in Between Shepshed and Loughborough

Garendon Hall was a country home near Shepshed, Leicestershire, England. It was demolished in 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bagworth</span> Human settlement in England

Bagworth is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Bagworth and Thornton, in the Hinckley and Bosworth district, in Leicestershire, England, 9 miles (14 km) west of Leicester. In 1931 the parish had a population of 1568.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leicester Corn Exchange</span> Municipal building in Leicester, England

Leicester Corn Exchange is a commercial building in the Market Place in Leicester, Leicestershire, England. The structure, which currently operates as a public house, is a grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gilmorton</span> Human settlement in England

Gilmorton is a village and civil parish about 3 miles (5 km) northeast of Lutterworth in Leicestershire, England. The 2011 Census recorded the parish population as 976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donington le Heath</span> Human settlement in England

Donington le Heath is a village on the River Sence just over 1 mile (1.6 km) south of the centre of Coalville in North West Leicestershire. Donington is contiguous with the village of Hugglescote immediately to the east. The population of the village is included in the civil parish of Hugglescote and Donington le Heath.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Church, Garthorpe</span> Church in Leicestershire, England

St Mary's Church is a redundant Church of England parish church in the village of Garthorpe, Leicestershire, England. The building is Grade I listed. It has been in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust since 1 November 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jewry Wall Museum</span>

The Jewry Wall Museum is a museum in Leicester in the East Midlands of England. It was built in the 1960s, facing the Jewry Wall ruins in a building shared with Vaughan College. It housed artefacts from Iron Age, Roman, and medieval Leicester. With the ending of Vaughan College's use of the building in 2013, the whole site was acquired by the city council, and expansion and improvement plans were put in place.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Margaret's Church, Leicester</span> Church

St Margaret's Church is an ancient Anglican parish church situated on St Margaret's Way in Leicester, England. It is a Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Church, Anstey</span> Church in United Kingdom

St Mary's Church is the Church of England parish church in Anstey, Leicestershire, in the Diocese of Leicester.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leicester Abbey</span> Former Augustinian monastery in Leicester, England

The Abbey of Saint Mary de Pratis, more commonly known as Leicester Abbey, was an Augustinian religious house in the city of Leicester, in the East Midlands of England. The abbey was founded in the 12th century by the Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester, and grew to become the wealthiest religious establishment within Leicestershire. Through patronage and donations the abbey gained the advowsons of countless churches throughout England, and acquired a considerable amount of land, and several manorial lordships. Leicester Abbey also maintained a cell at Cockerham Priory, in Lancashire. The Abbey's prosperity was boosted through the passage of special privileges by both the English Kings and the Pope. These included an exemption from sending representatives to parliament and from paying tithe on certain land and livestock. Despite its privileges and sizeable landed estates, from the late 14th century the abbey began to suffer financially and was forced to lease out its estates. The worsening financial situation was exacerbated throughout the 15th century and early 16th century by a series of incompetent, corrupt and extravagant abbots. By 1535 the abbey's considerable income was exceeded by even more considerable debts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brooke Priory</span> Former house of Augustinian monks in Brooke, Rutland

Brooke Priory was a minor house of Augustinian monks in Brooke, Rutland. It was a cell of St Mary's Abbey, Kenilworth.

References

  1. 1 2 Pevsner & Williamson 2003, p. 249.
  2. 1 2 3 Historic England. "Leicester abbey and 17th century mansion and ornamental gardens (Grade scheduled monument) (1012149)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  3. ↑ "Penny, John (PNY477J)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  4. ↑ Historic England. "Abbot Penny's Wall (Grade I) (1361406)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  5. ↑ McWhirr 1997, p. 44.
  6. ↑ "The Story of Leicester - Leicester Abbey". Leicester City Council. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  7. ↑ Martin, Dan (30 November 2018). "How historic buildings in Abbey Park are being saved". Leicester Mercury.
  8. ↑ "Experts to survey Abbey Park's historic walls and ruins". Leicester City Council. 29 November 2018.
  9. ↑ "Conservation work continues on Abbey Park's historic precinct walls". Leicester City Council. 19 April 2021.
  10. ↑ Troughton, Adrian (20 April 2021). "Work underway to conserve medieval wall in Abbey Park". Leicester Mercury.
  11. 1 2 McWhirr 1997, pp. 45–46.
  12. ↑ McWhirr 1997, p. 37.
  13. ↑ McWhirr 1997, p. 40.
  14. 1 2 Historic England. "Abbot Penny's Wall (Grade I) (1361406)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 5 March 2022.

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.