Priory church. The original church was probably aisleless and was enlarged c.1250 by the addition of a N aisle only. The lower part of the S wall remains much as it was built c.1180. The W front is a beautiful example of its period ... in the gable are an original mother and child. 2 sides of the church are missing and it seems evident that these were quarries for work on the buildings and gardens. The S transept survives and is built into the house and divided into rooms. (2)
The original church was aisleless with short transepts and a presbytery. Byron's monument to his dog was said to cover the high altar but more probably marks the E end of the church. (3)
Founded between 1162 and 1173 by Henry II as a priory of Augustinian Canons. The N aisle was probably added in the late C13. During that century extensive rebuilding took place in the claustral area. Late C13 church front. (4)
The W front with the return of the N wall are all that is visible of the priory church. The S wall and transepts are completely masked by later walling. (6)
Of the church, all that remains is the very beautiful W end, c 1270, decorated with exceptionally fine carved panels, tracery and ornament. The front is symmetrical although there was in fact no S aisle. Many of the cloistral buildings survive intact in the adjoining mansion which is used as a museum. This is partly inhabited and Listed grade I. (7)
See M8293 for P Med house, M8939 for Priory.

Data Held (Document). SNT2647.

OS cards, Parish File

Data Held: Ground Photograph (Ground photograph). SNT2646.

1 BW print; 1 colour print, B10/5, SMR

<1> Thoroton Society, 1919, TTS, pp 115 - (Published document). SNT344.

<2> Nottingham Corporation, 1945, Newstead Abbey Pubn no 1 (Published document). SNT251.

<3> Knowles D and St Joseph JK, 1952, Monastic Sites From The Air, p 262 (Published document). SNT870.

<4> Pevsner N, 1979, The Buildings of England: Nottinghamshire 2nd ed., p 201 (Monograph). SNT4.

<5> British Archaeological Assoc, 1854, JBAA, pp 30 - (Published document). SNT191.

<6> Woodhouse WC, 1959, Pers Comm (Personal comment). SNT1437.

<7> JS, 1974, AM7 (Unpublished document). SNT845.

<8> Dodd A, 1988, AM107 (Unpublished document). SNT620.