Spalding, a historic market town in Lincolnshire, possesses a captivating past interwoven with its architectural treasures. Among these are the Abbey Buildings, a row of cottages that echo the town's monastic heritage.
Here´s a brief history of these buildings, their connection to the old Spalding Priory, and an exploration of the possibility of an undercroft beneath their foundations.
To appreciate the Abbey Buildings, we must first understand the story of Spalding Priory. Established in 1052 as a cell of Crowland Abbey, the priory was dedicated to St Mary the Virgin and St Nicholas. It played a vital role in Spalding's religious and social life for nearly five centuries. The priory's influence was not limited to spiritual matters; it commanded substantial land and wealth, making it a prominent force in the region. Interestingly, the priory served as an "overflow" for Crowland Abbey, accommodating the increasing monastic population and highlighting its significance in the region's monastic network.
The priory's prosperity was intertwined with Spalding's economic success as a port. The thriving maritime trade brought wealth to the town, and the priory likely benefited from this economic activity. However, the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII brought an abrupt end to the priory's dominance. In 1540, the priory was surrendered, its lands confiscated, and its buildings largely demolished. During building work in Bridge Street, six human skeletons were unearthed, believed to be from the priory burial ground. This discovery provides a poignant reminder of the priory's long history and its connection to the people of Spalding.
While the priory church and many monastic structures vanished, some remnants endure, such as the Prior's Oven, a remarkable edifice dating back to around 1230. This structure, mentioned in historical records, serves as a tangible link to the priory's architectural legacy.
The Abbey Buildings, situated on Priory Road, are a physical manifestation of Spalding's monastic past. These red brick cottages, built in 1840, were constructed using materials salvaged from the demolished priory. This practice of repurposing stone and timber from dissolved monasteries was common in the post-Dissolution era. In the 1960s, the Abbey Buildings were thatched, adding another layer to their historical character.
The Abbey Buildings are not merely old cottages; they are a designated Grade II listed building, recognized for their historical and architectural importance. Their preservation offers a window into 19th-century building practices and provides valuable insights into the social history of Spalding. The buildings' construction from salvaged materials reflects a resourcefulness born out of necessity and a desire to retain a connection to the past.
The question of whether an undercroft lies beneath the Abbey Buildings remains open. While no definitive archaeological evidence confirms its existence, historical records and architectural surveys provide intriguing hints.
During a site visit to cellars on Sheepgate, remnants of dressed stone walls with lime mortar were discovered. This finding suggests the possibility of similar underground structures in the area, perhaps even beneath the Abbey Buildings. The presence of undercrofts in other medieval buildings in Spalding further supports this possibility. For instance, an archaeological excavation at 18 New Road, Spalding, revealed a medieval undercroft beneath a building dating back to the 12th-14th centuries. Additionally, a medieval undercroft has been found at Ayscoughfee Hall in Spalding.
These discoveries, taken together, suggest that undercrofts may have been a common feature in medieval and post-medieval buildings in Spalding. While the existence of an undercroft beneath the Abbey Buildings remains unconfirmed, further investigation, including non-invasive techniques like ground-penetrating radar, could illuminate this intriguing possibility.
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