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A walk into the past, around the precinct of Eynsham Abbey. It was created in 2002 to mark the bounds of the former precinct, with carved stone from the abbey built into the engraved 'stations'; for a fuller report see Eynsham Record 2003 pages 37-41.
More abbey fragments in the Conservation Area. More walks.
“By following the trail along the footpaths around the boundary of the Abbey precinct, you will retrace the steps of the mediaeval monks.
Cairns and further information boards on the way will tell some of the story of the Abbey, the monks' lives and the influence of the Abbey on Eynsham. Each of the cairns is built with stones from the Abbey buildings. The trail will take you past the farm, the fishponds, the gardens and the pastures which surrounded the central core of the Abbey.
“Some of our knowledge of the Abbey and what was here before comes from surviving documents and some from recent archaeological excavations in the churchyard. These excavations, in the yard of St Peter's Roman Catholic church, revealed part of the cloister, the kitchens and other domestic buildings of the Abbey.
“A huge quantity of finds were recovered, including pottery, roof and floor tiles, and bones from cattle, sheep and pigs.
“Remains of more than 30 different buildings were traced, the earliest dating from the Bronze age ...”
The creation of the Heritage Trail was funded by Abbey Properties; Eynsham History Group; Eynsham Parish Council; Harry Lange; Heritage Lottery Fund; West Oxfordshire District Council.
The tour begins in the car park of St Peter's Church, in front of Station 1.
You will find it on the northern wall, overlooking St Leonard's. Church
As you see, this panel will reward a closer study. First section reads:
BEFORE THE ABBEY ...
The importance of this site in Eynsham goes back much further than the Abbey itself. The nearby fording point of the river Thames (now marked by the toll bridge at Swinford) has meant that this area has always been important. Traces have been found at this spot of a huge late neolithic enclosure over 3000 years old, surrounded by a ditch and a bank, which may have had a ritual purpose.
Some sort of Roman settlement existed here, and there was probably a villa somewhere in the region of the present village centre.
After the Roman period, Saxons settled in the area, and Eynsham became the centre of a royal estate. Because of Eynsham's importance, this site was chosen for a minster church (a ruling church of the region) sometime in the eighth century.
THE FIRST ABBEY
The Abbey was founded in 1005 and its first abbot was Aelfric, one of the greatest of all Saxon writers and thinkers. He died in 1016 and was buried in the Abbey church.
After the Norman conquest in 1066, the original Abbey church and buildings were demolished and a new Abbey constructed in the early 12th century. The Abbey flourished for over 500 years and was the second richest religious house in the country. Finally, in 1539 the Dissolution meant that eynsham Abbey – along with all the other abbeys in the country – was surrendered to King Henry VIII.
Over the next century, the church and all the Abbey buildings were demolished, so that by the 19th century nothing remained standing.
The Abbey stood where now stands the graveyard of the parish church of St Leonard's,beyond the wall in front of you. It was at least twice as large as the present parish church.
On your right, and attached to the church, would be the complex of buildings which were the monks' world, including:
* the cloister – an enclosed courtyard where they wrote and walked
* the chapter house – where the senior monks would meet to regulate the Abbey's business
* the dormitory – where they slept
* the refectory – where they ate
* the kitchen – where their meals were cooked
* the infirmary – where they were nursed when they were sick.
Other buildings included the abbot's own lodgings, guest-houses, gardens, workshops, stores, bake-houses and the monks' own cemetery.
All of these buildings lay within the precinct – the grounds of the Abbey. The boundary of the precinct survives almost unchanged to this day and the Heritage Trail follows this boundary ...
You should now go through the car park to the entrance to Abbey Farm, which stands near where the main gatehouse of the Abbey once stood.
From there Station 2 is 50m away, just outside the car park entrance in Abbey Street, beside the entrance to Abbey Farm
To follow the perimeter of the precinct, walk up Abbey Street to the corner of Acre End Street (by The Jolly Sportsman).
Turn left, and continue until you come to Station Road on your left, by The Swan Inn. Walk down Station Road for about 300m until you see a small car park on your left, where you will find Station 3.
(A short cut can be taken by using Swan Street instead of Acre End Street)
Station 3, showing one of the Fishponds interpretation panels on the other side of the car park.
From Station 3, follow the footpath through the abbey's fishponds area for about 250m, until you come out into the playing fields.
Keep on for another 100m to find Station 4 on your right.
This cairn (station 4) is at the farthest corner of the playing field. You could miss it out, but why cut corners?
Station 5, showing the Sports Pavilion in the distance. From Station 5 continue to the entrance to the playing field on Oxford Road. Turn left and walk back into the village, about 400m, until you see the market place on your left.
There you will find Station 6.
Station 6 in the Market Square, beside St Leonard's Church.
As this preview indicates, the tour begins in the car park of St Peter's Church, in front of the main display, Station 1.