Scheduled MonumentsEnglandReading Abbey: a Cluniac and Benedictine monastery and Civil War earthwork.

Reading Abbey: a Cluniac and Benedictine monastery and Civil War earthwork.

England
List entry 1007932
Nation
England
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic England (NHLE)

Overview

History & significance

Reading Abbey is a Cluniac and later Benedictine monastery founded in 1121 by King Henry I in Berkshire, England, which became one of the wealthiest and most influential religious houses in medieval England. The abbey was established as a daughter house of the Cluniac order and housed the reliquary of the Holy Hand of Saint James, an important pilgrimage destination that enhanced its prestige and revenues. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539, the site was demolished and its stones repurposed, leaving substantial surviving ruins including parts of the claustral buildings and refectory wall. During the English Civil War, the ruins were further modified by the construction of earthwork fortifications, evidence of which remains visible on the site today.

Reading Abbey: a Cluniac and Benedictine monastery and Civil War earthwork. is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1007932. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Reading Abbey: a Cluniac and Benedictine monastery and Civil War earthwork.?

Reading Abbey is a Cluniac and later Benedictine monastery founded in 1121 by King Henry I in Berkshire, England, which became one of the wealthiest and most influential religious houses in medieval England. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1007932.

Who is responsible for protecting Reading Abbey: a Cluniac and Benedictine monastery and Civil War earthwork.?

Reading Abbey: a Cluniac and Benedictine monastery and Civil War earthwork. is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic England (NHLE) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in England. The official designation reference is 1007932.

What other scheduled monuments are near Reading Abbey: a Cluniac and Benedictine monastery and Civil War earthwork.?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including High Bridge (0.3 km), Cropmark complex S of Charvil Lane (5 km), Cropmark complex in Straighthanger Field (5.2 km).

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