Excavations in London.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 March 1923, Page 3

Excavations in London.

REMAINS OF ANCIENT ABBEY'. During recent excavations in tup borough of Bermondsey, London, a stone, bearing the ronseerntion mark'll the ancient Abbey of St Saviour <a cross within a circle), which was found " n the site ot the Anglo-American ( ompany’s new petrol station in low'er Bridge Road. The stone will he built into tin* wall of the rompany’s office lor public inspection. On the same site have also been lon nil several door or window jamhinouldings. Some years ago, when a sewer was being ia.id in Long YYalk on the north side of the Anglo-Ameri-can Company’s site, a stone coffin was discovered, which now rests in the parish church of St .Mary Magdalen, nearby. Numerous foundations of walls have been come across, some being of stone, others of brick. It would appear that the former belonged to the Abbey, while the latter relate to Sir Thomas Pope’s resilience, known as Bermondsey House. Some of these walls are only separated one from the other by a foot or two. The boundary wall of the house on the north side of Abbey Street is of stone, and was part of the Abbey property. There is no doubt hut Hint the garden, which e.xl ended from the stone wall referred to, and covered Abbey Street east, of Tower Bridge Road, and also the site of the fiats belonging to the South Eastern ami Chatham Railway Company 'known as Abbey Buildings) was formerly the burial ground of the Abbey. On this site lour skeletons were discovered in ■I iinnn rv. 1901.

British Museum experts stated that from t!ie analngv of form it would

seem fairly certain I hat these burials arc of approximately the' thirteenth century. It seemed highly probable

that what had been found was a portion of the graveyard of one of the religious foundations of inodieial Bermondsey. The remains of a Gotha t raceriscil window w ere found also m the same site, of anparoutly toiii-

teenth-centin y work. The Clnniac .Monastery o! Ihviwondsey- was founded by Alvin Child in 1082, and was dedicated In St Saviour. It continued its function v a Prior until the year I.T’P. when il was converted into an Abbey by Pope I’outface IX. and enlarged I" -nil Os greater requirements. Several ol tin architectural mouldings and oilier details which have been from time to time unearthed are ol late fourteenth century or early fifteenth-century design. The Abbey was situated in a Royal demesne, and was in possession of considerable lands and edifices. It was frequently inhabited by Royalty, and was the place of reluge oi many not able people, several ol whom were liuiicil within ids walls. Henry- Ihe Second held his first Pa ilia men, iu I lie I{crmnnil v.y Mmi;i .(cry . The Abbey of St Shnimn was a I I'llct lire of eon - lilei :• 5 • ! ■ ye. I lie Norman chin < h was ':m" -d a.lnml

Holt from tin pro cut south railing ol the Bermondsey "hm" by uni, and the end ol the chancel vu-. practical'' level is il q ihe intern o"! i u,; ”■ IVe- *iHiiilgv Road, iiU" occupying hsh ol I lie w i.l 11, of Ah'" y St rc c. . ill- I."l II wall being in thi I'eiiiri' ol ;hr existing warehouses. The main court was on the present site of Bermondsey Square. being surrounded with the cloister building". Tiie west gateway was ai the junction of Abbey SI reel and Bermondsey Street, lacing Long Lane, and file north gateway enisled on the site of iho present narrow street w hich connects ihe square with Abbey Street. The end gate spanned the present Grunge walk, and the house on the south side is the original building. The gate hinge- are still existing. _ and mav he seen on the wall ot No. i Grange Walk. The west gateway was standing in 1777, and the last remaining portions of the Ahhev were demolished in 1805—namely, the north gate and the adjoining buildings.