Stanley Abbey
Daughter monasteries
Stanley Abbey ( Stanlegia imperiatricis ) is a former Cistercian abbey in England. The monastery was in Stanley Wiltshire, on the south side of Marden Valley in Pewsham Forest, 2 km south-southwest of Loxwell and 1 km north of the road from Calne to Chippenham.
History
In 1151 the Empress Matilda and her chamberlain Drogo donated to the monks of Quarr Abbey in Loxham in Pewsham Forest west of the road from Chippenham to Devizes a site to establish a daughter monastery. The monastery was occupied from the beginning with English monks. Soon were several other foundations, among others, by Hugh de Plugenet and of King Henry II, who had to be sold in 1363 partly in order to settle debts. The monastery was first called St. Mary of Drownfont (or down front ). In 1154 it was moved to Stanley, where the water was led from the first location. As the daughter monastery of Quarr Abbey belonged to Stanley over Monastery Savigny of filiation primary Clairvaux Abbey. It was built around 1204 a daughter monastery ( Duiske Abbey, Graiguenamanagh Abbey also ) in Ireland. The Abbot Stephen of Lexington was in 1228 to solve the conspiracy of Mellifont active. At the beginning of the 13th century a part of the crown jewels in Stanley was kept. After 1200, the built immediately after laying to Stanley monastery buildings were (probably with the exception of the west wing ) renewed, the new building in 1247 related. The new church was consecrated in 1266 after the old one had been destroyed in a fire in 1212. The monastery owned several Gran Gien, which were initially operated by converse, but later of farmers. The monastery was attacked and robbed in 1321 by the Earl of Hereford and Mortimer. In the Valor Ecclesiasticus the annual income was estimated at 222 pounds. The last abbot before the resolution was Thomas Calne. Following its dissolution, the monastery was one of nine monks and novices. In February 1536, the monastery was drafted with the smaller monasteries of the crown. The plant was purchased by Sir Edward Baynton.
Plant and buildings
After the dissolution of the monastery, the plant was soon stopped completely. About why no remains have survived. 1860 (now decommissioned operating ) railway line was laid by the monastery. Excavations in 1909 have revealed the plan of the monastery complex: three-nave church in the form of a Latin cross, transept with two chapels on the East Side, three-aisled rectangular choir. The exam was in the north ( left) of the church. The Konversenbau in the West was separated by an alley from the monastery cloister. The chapter house had three naves to six yokes. Even floor tiles were uncovered, but they are now gone.