Monument record BSE 110 - Abbey Church West Front

Excavatiion by SAU to establish location of the apsidal wall of the N chapel of the West Front. Single trench cut in the courtyard of `1A The Courtyard' at TL 85656 64118. Exposed crest of flint and mortar rubble wall taken to be apsidal end of chapel (S1, S2).

2006: A small excavation and survey was undertaken as part of the restoration of the 16th-17th century house built into the West Front of the Abbey Church. The excavation was alongside the pier of the central arch, the main door into the building. This exposed the footings and an in situ block of ashlar; the only survivor seen thus far of the dressed stone that faced the west front of the building. This is the first indication of both the medieval ground level and the true front of the building. Evidence of an early courtyard surface fronting the church and overlying demolition layers, all below the level of the footings demonstrated that the West Front has been rebuilt over a previous incarnation of the abbey church.
The survey recorded evidence of the development of the abbey church and architectural details revealed during the restoration work. These including flagstones of a triforium walkway along the top of the south wall of the south aisle and the springers of a barrel vault over a recess in the south aisle.
Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2006 (S3).