The Benedictine abbey of Bardney was located just E of the River Witham, in open countryside approximately 9 miles E of Lincoln. The abbot's house lay to the W of the church. The early 20th c. excavations are now covered by grass and nothing of substance can be seen. In 1964 Pevsner and Harris reported as follows: 'All that is visible of the venerable abbey is a ditch, remains of one compound nave pier, bumps where others had been, something of the nave wall with traces of the middle doorway, and many hillocks of no precise message' (Lincolnshire 112).
A few early 16th c. cellarers' accounts remain to show that Bardney Abbey was visited by touring entertainers. It is likely that the abbot's hall would have been used as the performance venue.
The excavated site, now a scheduled ancient monument managed by English Heritage, is open to the public. Owned by the Jews Court Trust.
late 7th c. Founded by King Aethelred and Queen Osthryd of Mercia. ca. 870 Destroyed by Danish raids. ca. 1087 Refounded by Gilbert de Ghent as a Benedictine 'alien' priory. 1115 Raised to the rank of free abbey. late 12th c. Chapter house, refectory, W range and much of the work on the church completed. 13th c. Cellarer's building on the W side of the cloister converted as the abbot's house. New guest house and infirmary built. late 13th c. Church completed and dorter rebuilt. 14th c. Gatehouse rebuilt and guest house reduced in size. ca. 1437 Buildings in disrepair. 15th c. Renovations made to the abbot's house, large square kitchen and new inner gateway built. 1538 Dissolved. Monastic buildings and land acquired by Sir Robert Trywhitt who converted the abbot's house as a splendid residence. The cloister was turned into a walled garden but the church was demolished and the rest left to decay.
early 18th c. Tyrwhitt's house and the rest of the site derelict. 1909--14 Excavations uncovered much of the plan of the church and cloistral ranges. 1933 Exposed ruins covered for protection. 1974 Site acquired by the Jews' Court Trust.
REED Lincolnshire 1.343--6
