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