Page 7 - HB- Bordesley Abbey

Bordesley Abbey Redditch Heritage

Redditch Owes Its Existence To Bordesley Abbey

Introduction

The remains of Bordesley cover more than sixteen acres of land in the fields at the
northern end of the Arrow Valley Park. The Abbey Meadows are most easily accessible
from the Sainsbury round-a-bout on the Birmingham Road

The ruins of the Abbey were first investigated b J. M Woodward in the 1860's an then
systematically excavated in the late 20th century by students of the School of History,
University of Birmingham under the direction of Mr. Phillip Rahtz.

The site is owned by the Redditch District Council who make an annual grant towards
the cost of the archaeological works and who are responsible for the protection and
preservation of all the exposed masonry etc. under the supervision of the Department
of the Environment.

The dig is carried out for the most part during the summer vacation, usually for a period
of four to five weeks in July and early August with some interim works during the winter
term. The excavations have been going on for the past seven years. At first only
exploratory trenches were opened up in the region of the south cloister aisle the novitiate
and the monks frater. Later a considerable area of the minister nave was exposed.

All these earlier works were back-filled in order to protect the exposed stonework. The
work of the past four years has concentrated on the south trancept, crossing and
sacresty of the Abbey church (Minster). Finds of considerable importance, if not wealth
have been made and left exposed.

Dense oak

Prior to the establishment of the Abbey in 1 136 the whole area was covered with dense
oak thickets and the valley floor was an impenetrable bog. The whole area known as
Easemore (the marshy place) was considered valueless. In fact it is estimated that the
population density at that time was only about two persons to the square mile. These
were made up of the King's foresters, itinerant ironworkers and outlaws. Some evidence
of pockets of population exist with signs of ridge & furrow on abbey bank and some
roman finds, possibly from the nearby Roman Road of Iknield Street.

When Stephen became King of England he brought with him from his native Blois in
France his lifelong friend Waleran de Beaumont. He affianced his daughter to him and
made Waleran the first Earl of Worcester. Waleran, although of French birth, was the
grandson of William the conqueror's Sheriff of Worcester, Urse de Abitott, and the son
of Richard de Beaumont Justicar of England under Henry 1. Richard was so evil that he
was afraid to benefit the church for fear of committing blasphemy and so laid the duty
on his sons.Thus it was that Waleran, on becoming Earl of Worcester, and with the King's
consent,A Village

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