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Summary

Description

Possibly mid 12th century. Remains of Cistercian convent to SW of Eccles Church, set in grounds of Eccles House. Squared cream sandstone rubble walls; ashlar dressings. 2 barrel-vaulted chambers set in NE corner accessed from W with 17-step stone stair set between round-arched doorways; blocked up openings and niches within; concrete roof. Tall buttressed walls enclosing site to NW and SE; remains various niches; decorative mouldings. Blocked, round-arched and square-headed openings to N elevation, N wall.

Statement of Special Interest

Set to the N of former mansion house - itself replaced in the later 19th century by Thomas Leadbetter's Eccles House (see separate list entry). St Mary's Convent of Cistercian nuns is thought to have been founded some time between 1145 and 1156. It appears to have been near-square in plan, consisting of approximately 6 acres. Robson notes that "...the principal entrance to the nunnery was from the west, where there was a very spacious gate, " In 1544, the English took Eccles Church by assault and the following year, Eccles Priory is recorded as having been "...brent, rased and cast downe" (Binnie). The RCAHMS Inventory records a fragment of a string course, enriched with chevron ornament, on the N wall - this is no longer evident. Various sandstone features, including the old font, are set in the grounds to the SW. Carved fragments from the demolished Eccles House can also be seen (see Ferguson's Sketch Book). A single storey summer house, adjoined to the S of the vaulted chambers, is listed with the later Eccles House.

Scheduled 23 November 1999.

References

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