The medieval abbey at Burton upon Trent, built on the site of an earlier abbey founded by St Modwen, existed by at least 1002--04, when the will of Wulfric Spot bequeathed his estates at Burton to the monastery there. After the abbey’s dissolution in 1539, it briefly became a college before the estate was granted to the Paget family in 1546. Part of the former abbey remained in use as the parish church of St Modwen until its demolition in 1718.
By 1545, domestic buildings named in an account of the college’s possessions at dissolution included a great hall, dean’s hall, great chamber, king’s chamber, outer hall and chamber, petty canons’ house, kitchen, buttery, brewhouse, and bakery.
Burton Manor is a known performance venue during the residence of Thomas, Lord Paget (d. 1590), who entertained travelling musicians, choirmen from Lichfield Cathedral, and visiting players from other households.
The great hall, later the Abbey Inn, now exists as a public house known as the Winery. The great chamber, later the manor house, is now a private residence.
1541: Abbey dissolved and Burton College founded.
1545: Burton College dissolved. Parishioners continued to use the nave, transepts, crossing with tower and spire, and W arm of the abbey as the parish church.
1546: College and its lands granted to William Paget by Henry VIII. Paget obtained a license to fortify the building.
1563: William Paget died before plans to convert cloistral buildings to a house could be completed. Paget family continued to use the existing buildings for accommodation on visits to Burton.
From 1573: Thomas, Lord Paget, frequently resided at Burton.
By 1575: Some renovations to the claustral buildings completed, as an inventory names a gallery leading to tower chambers that were likely converted parts of the monastic property.
1583: Thomas Paget fled abroad after plotting in support of Mary, queen of Scots. His estates, including Burton, were forfeited.
1585: Mansion house described as in decay. Burton considered as a possible residence for Mary, Queen of Scots, but deemed unsuitable due to its poor condition.
1597: Paget estates, including Burton, restored to William Paget, but the family did not take up residence.
1612: Site of the great chamber let to Richard Almond, a servant to the Paget family, with the understanding that he would not be penalized for allowing the great hall and other buildings to decay. Almond given permission to demolish a malting chamber and use its timber to make repairs to other structures on the site (VCH: Staffs 9.48-53).
c.1612: Demolition of all claustral buildings owned by the Pagets except for the infirmary, manor house, and parts of the N and S sides of the medieval gatehouse.
Early 18th c: The portion of the grounds belonging to the Paget family let to George Hayne and family.
179x: Earliest known references to the former great chamber block as the ‘Manor House.’
1818: First recorded reference to the great hall as the ‘Abbey Inn,’ then occupied by Samuel Lowe.
1834: A new house, known as the Priory, built on the N edge of the estate.
1883: Priory demolished for the construction of a market hall.
1922: Grounds of Manor House converted to a war memorial garden.
