Chapter House open Sturday and Sunday 10am-4pm. For further details see http://www.londonopenhouse.org/
4 course meal and Medieval entertainment Tickets: £30.00
Fancy Dress preferred. RSVP by Friday 27 April 2012 to: Mayor’s Office, London Borough of Merton, Civic Centre, London Road, Morden SM4 5DX Telephone: 020 8545 3517 or email mayor@merton.gov.uk
Open Day at The Chapter House, Merton
On Easter Sunday the Chapter House, Merton Abbey Mills, Merton - open. In the Chapter House are the ruins of the chapter house of the Augustinian Merton Priory (1117–1538). Displays and artefacts on view from Merton Priory and displays about William Morris and Liberty & Co. who had their works shops here within the former priory’s precinct walls. Hand block-printing demonstrations, children’s archaeology dig boxes and crafts.
It is all free.
The Chapter House prepared by JH/NH/DS (funded by MBA) for the event of the year, with over 70 appreciative guests. MH to be congratulated for creating such an inspired silk purse out of such a sow’s ear. Key senior Council officers (James McGinlay, Anthony Hopkins) who had been invited but could not attend were invited by JH to visit the Chapter House (which they had never, in fact, seen) on January 13th.
26 November 2011
The Merton Priory Trust welcomes the land transfer which brings the Chapter House and south garden into public ownership. We look forward to working with the local community, the Borough of Merton and Wandle Valley partners to bring the Merton Priory project forward.
What's going to happen next? See the conservation plan policies at Part 2 - Policy.
29 October 2011
Opening times: 11am – 5pm. Admission free.
MERTON ARTS TRAIL EXHIBITION in the ruins of the Chapter House at Merton Abbey Mills. This historic place, under the road between the Savacentre and the Mills, is newly open to the public, and the exhibition has been scheduled to coincide with the Arts Trail, sponsored by Marcus Beale Architects. Items displayed on loan from the Museum of London alongside the 10 planned art installations, which are being made in response to the site.
Participating artists:
Robert Aldous Jane Bailey Wendy Bliss Sue Evans Maxwell Flood Fiona Long Helen Newhouse Maxine Pringle Chris Rowe Fiona Leighton-Crawford
Further information at http://mertonartstrail.org.uk
A page on Robert Aldous's installation 'It is written in water' is at
http://www.bobaldous.com/it-is-written-in-water/
30-31 July 2011 10am to 5pm Festival of British Archaeology
30 July 2011 Dig
Children can uncover original artefacts from Roman times to the 19th century under the guidance of professional archaeologists. There will also be historical craft activities such as painting and drawing using historical references.
September 2011 London Open City
6 May 2012. The annual service of nones will be held in the Chapter House at 3pm.
TO SUIT YOU If you would like to arrange a guided visit, please contact the trust. We would be pleased to open the chapter house by arrangement for interested groups of people.
9 July 2011. The Chapter House was specially prepared by DS/JH for a highly successful musical celebration, attended by nearly 100 parishioners, part of a “pilgrimage” along the Wandle on Saturday 9th July, ending in a service in the Chapter House and picnic in Wandle Park.
22 May 2011 Holy Trinity The Broadway Wimbledon SW19 (after church services)
29 May 2011 St Mary’s Wimbledon (after church services)
16 and 17th July 2011 St Lawrence Morden Village Festival
11 May 2011
History buffs' rare chance to see Magna Carta - article in Wimbledon Guardian here.
Forthcoming viewings are at:
1 May 2011
The Chapter house laid out ready for the 14th annual service of Nones. About 20 people visited the site, some expecting to hear the 14th 'Friends of Merton Priory' service of nones, remembering the day on which the priory was formally founded. This is how Heales describes the foundation, in his book The Records of Merton Priory (1898):
'... all... authorities concur in fixing the date of the foundation as 1117, except one manuscript [College of Arms; Arundel MS. 28], which gives so full and circumstantial an account of the proceedings that we may properly commence the History...at the year 1114. Henry (I) King of the English, gave the Ville pertaining to the Crown, called Meriton, or Merton, to Gilbert the Knight, formerly Sheriff, to possess freely in hereditary right: ... [who] most liberally built a church at his own cost, and handsomely decorated it with paintings and other images... dedicated to the honour of the Most Blessed Mother of God, ...Mary. ... Gilbert had previously been Sheriff of the Counties of Surrey, Cambridge, and [probably] Huntingdon in which latter County the Order of Canons regular had flourished for some years in the church of St. Mary ... it occurred to him to seek there advice and aid... [from] Rodbert, at that time sub-Prior [who]... accompanied by a few brethren was introduced to Merton and the church...endowed with adjacent land sufficient for two ploughs, and with a mill bringing in 60s. per annum. ... Gilbert, the founder and patron, continued actively occupied for the benefit of the place.... The Convent was now transferred to [a] new building in ... 1117; and many hastened thither. ... The prior entered the ...place... on the fifth of the nones of May (May 3), being the day on which the Lord's Ascension was celebrated, the Brethren, who were now fifteen in number, entered the place of their new habitation, singing
Salve, festa dies, toto venerabilis aevo,
Qua Deus infernum vicit, et astra tenet,
Chorus: Salve, festa Dies
[ The beginning of the sequence on Easter Day, on bringing back the Host from the Sepulchre where it has been deposited on Good Friday. Sarum processional; York Manual ( Surtees Soc. Ed. p. 175).]
The Chapter house is being improved by redecorating the surrounding walls, reorganizing the displays of archaeological finds and the explanatory notice boards, improving lighting and signage.
Shortly the sand laid between the foundations will be removed and the levels reduced to give a greater impression of the layout of the building.
After many years of delay the land transfer of the chapter house and surrounding site is due for imminent completion, and the Trust will lease the site from new owners London Borough of Merton to begin the implementation of the new education and information centre. The precise work will be confirmed following further study and consultation. It may include:
- opening up the enclosure to increase views from the surrounding areas
- further improvements to the chapter house interior
- planting a medieval garden in the area to the south of the chapter house
- improved exhibitions and displays
- improved web site and on-line historical resources relating to the priory.
The Trust will also be displaying facsimiles of two remarkable historical documents, the Magna Carta(1215) and Statute of Merton (1235), which are being reproduced by hand by the calligraphers of the Royal College of Arms. Special thanks to the Dean and Chapter of Salisbury Cathedral, the House of Lords, the Museum of London, and City livery companies who have made these reproductions possible.
The Trust has also acquired original fabrics printed at Merton Abbey by Morris and Liberty, which will be conserved and displayed.
For an article 'Hidden History Under Sainsbury's Car Park' click here.
Sunday 1 August 2010 10am till 5pm - the Chapter House open as part of the Fetsival of British Archaeology. Contact John Hawks on 07949 593431 if you have any queries. Details of location and how to get here follow:
Dave Saxby’s archaeological digs remain a key feature – not only attracting children to the concepts of conservation of our history, but releasing their parents to look round our exhibits at leisure. It is this holistic approach which seems to work best. It was particularly pleasing that the facility allowed for a rare and welcome visit to Merton of representatives from both Kelmscott House in Hammersmith, and the William Morris Gallery from Walthamstow. Both groups were delighted with their 2 day stay in the Chapter House, juxtaposed as they were with the wonderful display created by William Morris House of Wimbledon, and Mary’s block printing demonstrations.