| The definitive guide to the subject, A Priory | | | | most immediate importance, of which the |
| Revealed published by the Museum of London | | | | recycling theme is reflected in the text |
| Archeology Service is the spearhead title in | | | | boxes alongside this article.It is worth |
| the present campaign to provide a higher | | | | noting that, for us as a Museum wishing to |
| profile of the Merton Abbey conservation | | | | promote its 900th anniversary, the chronology |
| area, including the latest archaeological | | | | of the Priory creates a problem. Merton |
| research.A Priory Revealed updates the two | | | | Priory as an institution was founded in 1114, |
| earlier booklets which were more about how | | | | but there is a second date for the foundation |
| the site was arranged and what was produced. | | | | of the priory building itself.The order built |
| This will be the single most important work | | | | its first church in Merton, situated near the |
| on subject of the Merton Priory for the | | | | present St. Mary's Church in Merton Park, |
| general public, as it summarises the history | | | | dating back to 1114. The area was abandoned |
| of the priory, as, despite containing an | | | | by the canons (before being demolished in |
| enormous amount of historical information, it | | | | 1540) when they moved from their timber |
| has been devised as general reading, rather | | | | buildings, taking some with them, to the |
| than as a reference work for architectural | | | | riverside site of the first flint and stone |
| historians, (a task better left to the full | | | | church, built in part upon the old Roman |
| report being published at the end of the year | | | | road, and consecrated in 1117 and it is this |
| by the Museum of London which will capture | | | | site which continued to grow.The Priory site |
| academics but fail to attract general | | | | was fully integrated with the River Wandle, |
| readers).Lionel's book highlights the work | | | | the course of which was changed where needed. |
| being done by several groups including the | | | | Its tributaries supplied not only drinking |
| Priory Trust, Merton Historical Society, | | | | water, and motive power but provided an |
| English Heritage and the Museum of London. If | | | | effective sanitation system for the domestic |
| I have one major quarrel, I would have had a | | | | buildings associated with the Priory.If we |
| better experience if the text was not so | | | | are to promote the 900th anniversary, and |
| condensed.This is by no means a condensed | | | | start work towards it, then we must decide if |
| book, but it is meant to attract anyone | | | | it is the building we are celebrating, in |
| interested in an absorbing historical | | | | which case 1117 would be the more correct |
| narrative of the priory. The editors worked | | | | initial date in terms of the excavated site, |
| to make the writing accessible, including the | | | | however this would mean planning an event in |
| key guidelines for researchers, and | | | | 12 years time.All things being equal, taking |
| everything is well illustrated, yet this is | | | | 1114 as the start date would be a better idea |
| no handbook for beginners, as the author | | | | as we would be planning for an event in 8 |
| asserts a level of authority in his | | | | years, only 2 years after the 2012 |
| documentary and archaeological evidence.This | | | | Olympics.This would also give us a second |
| book is the product of investigation by | | | | bite of the cherry in 2017, by which time it |
| Lionel over many years to explore the | | | | is possible that the interest stirred up by |
| religious, political and industrial | | | | the first date will have produced more |
| development from the foundation of the Priory | | | | information to celebrate.From the museum's |
| as an Augustinian monastery, occupying the | | | | point of view, the industrial history titbits |
| site situated close to the present day | | | | in the book are of most immediate interest, |
| Recycling of the raw materials used to build | | | | of which the recycling theme as reflected in |
| the Merton prioryMerton Priory is indirectly | | | | the text box alongside this article add new |
| responsible for the area's name, despite | | | | insight.Merton Priory is indirectly |
| never being an abbey, but the institution is | | | | responsible for the area's name, despite |
| certainly responsible for providing | | | | never being an abbey, but the institution is |
| construction materiels for subsequent | | | | certainly responsible for providing |
| generations, like the various churches that | | | | construction materiels for subsequent |
| fell once their clerical powers were | | | | generations, like the various churches that |
| lostIndustries have flourished along the | | | | fell once their clerical powers were |
| banks of the River Wandle for centuries, many | | | | lostIndustries have flourished along the |
| of these used salvaged & natural materials | | | | banks of the River Wandle for centuries, many |
| found in the area, such as some future race | | | | of these used salvaged & natural materials |
| will build upon our ruins! This was true of | | | | found in the area, such as some future race |
| the Catholic church who have built upon the | | | | will build upon our ruins! This was true of |
| foundations of the aristocracy of the Roman | | | | the Catholic church who have built upon the |
| Empire and the Merton Abbey Mills site.When | | | | foundations of the aristocracy of the Roman |
| Henry VIII dissolved the nunnery at St | | | | Empire and the Merton Abbey Mills site.When |
| Helen's Bishopsgate there was no great | | | | Henry VIII dissolved the nunnery at St |
| disarray as with other religious house | | | | Helen's Bishopsgate there was no great |
| closures like Merton Priory, the land and | | | | disarray as with other religious house |
| property of the church, gradually added upon | | | | closures like Merton Priory, the land and |
| over the centuries, was confiscated by the | | | | property of the church, gradually added upon |
| crown to help fund the hundred years war, the | | | | over the centuries, was confiscated by the |
| canons finally surrendered and the | | | | crown to help fund the hundred years war, the |
| four-hundred year old Priory site was | | | | canons finally surrendered and the |
| subsequently demolished during the | | | | four-hundred year old Priory site was |
| reformation in 1538.Some buildings like the | | | | subsequently demolished during the |
| Chapter house including remnants from the | | | | reformation in 1538.Some buildings like the |
| medieval period along with most of the | | | | Chapter house including remnants from the |
| foundations have survived. The waste and | | | | medieval period along with most of the |
| rubbish discovered under the old gardens and | | | | foundations have survived. The waste and |
| houses when the site was excavated 360 years | | | | rubbish discovered under the old gardens and |
| later reviled a great deal information about | | | | houses when the site was excavated 360 years |
| people's everyday lives, but the Tudor | | | | later reviled a great deal information about |
| demolition gangs took most of the archaeology | | | | people's everyday lives, but the Tudor |
| for recycling including 3,600 tons of stone. | | | | demolition gangs took most of the archaeology |
| A masterpiece of destruction for both the | | | | for recycling including 3,600 tons of stone. |
| Cuddington Church and Merton Priory that were | | | | A masterpiece of destruction for both the |
| demolished to make room for and build Henry | | | | Cuddington Church and Merton Priory that were |
| VIII's opulent new palace at Nonsuch near | | | | demolished to make room for and build Henry |
| Sutton.The tower bells and window lead were | | | | VIII's opulent new palace at Nonsuch near |
| taken to the foundries and cast into cannon & | | | | Sutton.The tower bells and window lead were |
| shot for the coastal defences. Stone | | | | taken to the foundries and cast into cannon & |
| originally from the medieval Priory was also | | | | shot for the coastal defences. Stone |
| used in the later sections of the perimeter | | | | originally from the medieval Priory was also |
| wall.From the museum's point of view, the | | | | used in the later sections of the perimeter |
| industrial history titbits in the book are of | | | | wall. |