'A Priory Revealed' the New Publication by Lionel Green

The definitive guide to the subject, A Prioryimportance, of which the recycling theme is reflected
Revealed published by the Museum of Londonin the text boxes alongside this article.It is worth
Archeology Service is the spearhead title in thenoting that, for us as a Museum wishing to promote
present campaign to provide a higher profile of theits 900th anniversary, the chronology of the Priory
Merton Abbey conservation area, including the latestcreates a problem. Merton Priory as an institution was
archaeological research.A Priory Revealed updates thefounded in 1114, but there is a second date for the
two earlier booklets which were more about how thefoundation of the priory building itself.The order built
site was arranged and what was produced. This willits first church in Merton, situated near the present
be the single most important work on subject of theSt. Mary's Church in Merton Park, dating back to 1114.
Merton Priory for the general public, as it summarisesThe area was abandoned by the canons (before
the history of the priory, as, despite containing anbeing demolished in 1540) when they moved from
enormous amount of historical information, it hastheir timber buildings, taking some with them, to the
been devised as general reading, rather than as ariverside site of the first flint and stone church, built in
reference work for architectural historians, (a taskpart upon the old Roman road, and consecrated in
better left to the full report being published at the1117 and it is this site which continued to grow.The
end of the year by the Museum of London which willPriory site was fully integrated with the River
capture academics but fail to attract generalWandle, the course of which was changed where
readers).Lionel's book highlights the work being doneneeded. Its tributaries supplied not only drinking
by several groups including the Priory Trust, Mertonwater, and motive power but provided an effective
Historical Society, English Heritage and the Museum ofsanitation system for the domestic buildings
London. If I have one major quarrel, I would haveassociated with the Priory.If we are to promote the
had a better experience if the text was not so900th 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 anin which case 1117 would be the more correct initial
absorbing historical narrative of the priory. Thedate 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, andthings being equal, taking 1114 as the start date
everything is well illustrated, yet this is no handbookwould be a better idea as we would be planning for
for beginners, as the author asserts a level ofan event in 8 years, only 2 years after the 2012
authority in his documentary and archaeologicalOlympics.This would also give us a second bite of the
evidence.This book is the product of investigation bycherry 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 theproduced more information to celebrate.From the
foundation of the Priory as an Augustinianmuseum's point of view, the industrial history titbits in
monastery, occupying the site situated close to thethe book are of most immediate interest, of which
present day Recycling of the raw materials used tothe recycling theme as reflected in the text box
build the Merton prioryMerton Priory is indirectlyalongside this article add new insight.Merton Priory is
responsible for the area's name, despite never beingindirectly responsible for the area's name, despite
an abbey, but the institution is certainly responsiblenever being an abbey, but the institution is certainly
for providing construction materiels for subsequentresponsible for providing construction materiels for
generations, like the various churches that fell oncesubsequent generations, like the various churches
their clerical powers were lostIndustries havethat fell once their clerical powers were lostIndustries
flourished along the banks of the River Wandle forhave flourished along the banks of the River Wandle
centuries, many of these used salvaged & naturalfor centuries, many of these used salvaged & natural
materials found in the area, such as some future racematerials found in the area, such as some future race
will build upon our ruins! This was true of the Catholicwill build upon our ruins! This was true of the Catholic
church who have built upon the foundations of thechurch who have built upon the foundations of the
aristocracy of the Roman Empire and the Mertonaristocracy of the Roman Empire and the Merton
Abbey Mills site.When Henry VIII dissolved theAbbey Mills site.When Henry VIII dissolved the
nunnery at St Helen's Bishopsgate there was nonunnery at St Helen's Bishopsgate there was no
great disarray as with other religious house closuresgreat disarray as with other religious house closures
like Merton Priory, the land and property of thelike Merton Priory, the land and property of the
church, gradually added upon over the centuries, waschurch, gradually added upon over the centuries, was
confiscated by the crown to help fund the hundredconfiscated by the crown to help fund the hundred
years war, the canons finally surrendered and theyears war, the canons finally surrendered and the
four-hundred year old Priory site was subsequentlyfour-hundred year old Priory site was subsequently
demolished during the reformation in 1538.Somedemolished during the reformation in 1538.Some
buildings like the Chapter house including remnantsbuildings like the Chapter house including remnants
from the medieval period along with most of thefrom the medieval period along with most of the
foundations have survived. The waste and rubbishfoundations have survived. The waste and rubbish
discovered under the old gardens and houses whendiscovered under the old gardens and houses when
the site was excavated 360 years later reviled athe 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 thebut the Tudor demolition gangs took most of the
archaeology for recycling including 3,600 tons ofarchaeology for recycling including 3,600 tons of
stone. A masterpiece of destruction for both thestone. A masterpiece of destruction for both the
Cuddington Church and Merton Priory that wereCuddington Church and Merton Priory that were
demolished to make room for and build Henry VIII'sdemolished to make room for and build Henry VIII's
opulent new palace at Nonsuch near Sutton.Theopulent new palace at Nonsuch near Sutton.The
tower bells and window lead were taken to thetower bells and window lead were taken to the
foundries and cast into cannon & shot for the coastalfoundries and cast into cannon & shot for the coastal
defences. Stone originally from the medieval Priorydefences. Stone originally from the medieval Priory
was also used in the later sections of the perimeterwas also used in the later sections of the perimeter
wall.From the museum's point of view, the industrialwall.
history titbits in the book are of most immediate