Stanley Abbey and its estates 1150-c.1640
This thesis assesses the impact of a Cistercian monastery on the landscape and how, in its turn, the landscape influenced the monastery. It also tests some of the traditional early ideals of the Cistercians such as their attitude to colonisation, land clearance, administration of their territory and dealings with secular society. This study also goes beyond the monastic period and examines what effect the suppression of the monastery had on the landscape and community. The research of monasteries has tended to be insular and concentrate on the recording of their standing fabric or the excavation of the church and conventual buildings; however, this thesis approaches the subject from a different perspective and examines not only the abbey but its territory using archaeology, architecture, documents and map evidence in a holistic, âlandscapeâ manner. In order to understand why the monks chose Chippenham Forest for their monastery the geomorphology of the region and the pre-monastic landscape is first assessed since it probably affected later colonisation. Using the earthwork survey plan of the abbey features within the precinct are identified. It is clear that, following its suppression, the west range of
Brown, Graham Roger
Stanley Abbey and its estates 1150-c.1640. This thesis assesses the impact of a Cistercian monastery on the landscape and how, in its turn, the landscape influenced the monastery. It also tests some of the traditional early ideals of the Cistercians such as their attitude to colonisation, land clearance, administration of their territory and dealings with secular society. This study also goes beyond the monastic period and examines what effect the suppression of the monastery had on the landscape and community. The research of monasteries has tended to be insular and concentrate on the recording of their standing fabric or the excavation of the church and conventual buildings; however, this thesis approaches the subject from a different perspective and examines not only the abbey but its territory using archaeology, architecture, documents and map evidence in a holistic, âlandscapeâ manner. In order to understand why the monks chose Chippenham Forest for their monastery the geomorphology of the region and the pre-monastic landscape is first assessed since it probably affected later colonisation. Using the earthwork survey plan of the abbey features within the precinct are identified. It is clear that, following its suppression, the west range of
abbey estates ass impact monastery landscape turn landscape influence monastery also test traditional early ideal attitude colonisation land clearance administration territory dealing secular society study also beyond monastic period examines_effect suppression monastery landscape community monastery tend insular concentrate record stand fabric excavation church building however approach_subject different_perspective examines abbey territory use archaeology architecture document map evidence holistic landscape manner order monk choose forest monastery geomorphology region pre monastic landscape first assess since probably affect later colonisation using earthwork survey plan abbey feature within precinct identify clear follow suppression west range