2020

SD2171 : Stabilising the Abbey

taken 4 years ago, near to Newton, Cumbria, England

Stabilising the Abbey
Stabilising the Abbey
In 2008, cracks were observed in the presbytery wall at the eastern end of the abbey church – the area reserved for the monks and where the high altar stood. These cracks reached the full height of the north and south walls of the presbytery which was falling away from the rest of the church. The subsidence had been noted in the 1920s and the walls of the crossing had been underpinned then, but further remedial work was clearly needed. The probable reason for the problem is that the presbytery was built on an oak raft which has decayed somewhat in the 800 years since the abbey’s construction. The elaborate system of scaffolding, seen today, was put in place as a (temporary?) measure in 2008 so that further underpinning could take place.
Furness Abbey

Furness Abbey was the first Savignac Abbey to be founded in Britain. Though originally founded at Tulketh near Preston, three years later in 1127 the monks moved here to Beckansgill near Barrow and built their great abbey. Its founder was Stephen, Count of Blois who was later to become King Stephen (bn.c.1096 r.1135-1154)
After only 20 years, in 1147, the Savignac Order merged with the Cistercian Order. The abbey grew wealthy from acquisitions of land in the Lake District and in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. The development of the harbour at Piel and construction of the castle there led to land being obtained in Ireland and on the Isle of Man.
All this wealth came to an abrupt end during the reign of Henry VIII however with Furness Abbey being dissolved on the 9th April 1537. The Deed of Surrender was signed in the Chapter House in the presence of the last abbot, Roger Pele; the prior; 28 monks and eight other witnesses, including two knights and a priest.
The Abbey was built of local Red Sandstone. The remains can be categorised into several building phases:
I (1127-1170) The Transepts of the church; The West Range and primary Reredorter
II (Later C12th) The Nave and SW reredorter
III (Early C13th) The East Range
IV (Mid C13th) The Chapter House and link to East Range; The Cloister; The Fraters to the south of the Cloister; The Hall of the Abbot's House
V (Late C13th) The Infirmary; The Kitchen; East Penticle western wall
VI (C14th) The Guest House; Extensions to Abbot's House; Cemetery Wall and Gatehouse; Stable Block
VII (C15th/16th) The West Tower; West Court Building; Eastern end of the church (Presbytery / Quire) and associated Chapels; Extension to Abbot's House.

The Abbey is a Scheduled Ancient Monument containing many listed buildings.
Useful links:
EH Ancient Monument listing LinkExternal link
EH (Visitor information) LinkExternal link
Visit Cumbria LinkExternal link
FurnessAbbey.org.uk LinkExternal link
British History Online LinkExternal link
Wikipedia LinkExternal link


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright David Dixon and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
This photo is linked from: Automatic Clusters: · Abbey Church [12] · Place as a Temporary [2] ·
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SD2171, 156 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
David Dixon   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Wednesday, 26 August, 2020   (more nearby)
Submitted
Tuesday, 1 September, 2020
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SD 218 717 [100m precision]
WGS84: 54:8.1587N 3:11.9029W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SD 217 718
View Direction
South-southeast (about 157 degrees)
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Image Type (about): close look 
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