Monument record 5003/1/3 - Medieval churchyard, Delapre Abbey

Former churchyard associated with the medieval nunnery. Burials have been found to the east and north-east of the existing buildings, while, more recently, two burials were found immediately north of the north range.

{1} Finds; early 17th century; at least one stone coffin and possibly other burials and/or coffins were found during rebuilding work on the site of the nuns choir; one burial or coffin was rediscovered in 1940 and reburied; SP75965906.

{2} Finds made 19th June 1895; two medieval stone coffins and lids; found during the laying of a new drainage system in the grounds of Delapre Abbey; the exact location is unknown, but was probably to the east or south east of the church; ie at the north east corner of the existing building; SP75965906.

{3} Several alterations at Delapre Abbey in 1895; some stone coffins were found on the site of the Drying Ground; sketched and measured by late Sir Henry Dryden; coffins were re-interred.

{4} Delapre Abbey churchyard was discovered in 1895 when sewer was laid; stone coffins were unearthed in what was called "laundry ground" on south-west side of present walled garden.

{5} As part of a wider scheme of works during the renovation of Delapre Abbey, a soakaway pit on the north front just outside the former church was machine-dug (initially without an archaeological presence) and badly disturbed two burials at only 400mm depth. What remained of the graves were hand-excavated and their locations recorded; the disturbed remains were gathered up and all reburied at the abbey in accordance with a Ministry of Justice license. In concert with the previous disturbances of 1895 and 1940, this shows that areas set aside for burials at the abbey are far more extensive than had previously been considered. Anywhere east or north of the former church is a possible area for burials, along with the north range, the east range (former Chapter House being assumed), the cloister alleys and the cloister itself. Together they could contain hundreds of burials, many in disconnected ‘islands’ of archaeology between services and post-medieval interventions, but there is no indication of the extent of any area so used, so the future management of graves is almost impossible except for either a blanket approach of managed, shallow, minimised disturbance or of wholesale archaeological excavation.

<1> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, Parish Files (checked) (Archive). SNN115.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.291 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<3> Serjeantson R.M., 1909, A History Of Delapre Abbey, Northampton, p.41+ drawings (checked) (Book). SNN474.

<4> Wake J.; Pantin W.A., 1958, Delapre Abbey, Its History and Architecture, p.228 (unchecked) (Article). SNN597.

<5> Soden, I and Prentice, J. with a contribution by Meadows, I, 2019, Archaeological monitoring, excavation, building recording and analysis at Delapre Abbey, Northampton 2014-19 (Report). SNN111408.

Record last edited

May 12 2021 9:46AM