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Abbey; and on the opposite side of the stream are the
vestiges of a Roman encampment. From the Bridge Inn there is
a sweetly-wooded walk along the banks of the stream, which
presents several glimpses of the solemn ruins, the tower
rising magnificently out of the massy foliage of the forest
trees, by which it is now enveloped. Ranulph, son of the
first Ranulph de Meschiens, founded this Abbey for
Cisterican (sic) monks in 1134; its revenues at the
dissolution amounted only to £64 3s. 9. None of the
conventual buildings remain; Mr. Irwin's house most probably
stands upon their site. The church was of the usual cross
form. The south side of the nave is gone. The west door is
good Norman, but plain. The nave consists of five arches in
length, pointed, and the mouldings flat: all this part is
richly covered with ivy. The centre tower stands on four
pointed arches, supported by lofty piers. The east end of
the choir is gone; it has had no lateral lights, but the
walls are adorned with long slender pillars and niches; and
on the south side are four circular niches, foliated, one
being pierced as a door. There are the remains of cloisters
on the south side, sufficient to show them to have been
beautiful specimens of early English. There are some old
monuments with recumbent figures. The grounds are kept in
excellent order; the greensward is beautiful; and no noxious
weeds are allowed to disfigure the precincts of this
once-hallowed shrine.
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