A Face from the Past - Tiles from Warden Abbey

This almost life size clay tile of a youngish, bearded man looking straight out at the world is rare survivor from the 14^th century.

John Sell Cotman, Door to the Abbots
Hall, Rievaulx Abbey, sepia wash
and black lead, 1803. Trustees of
the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery

The tile is part of a group of rare Picture tiles found at Warden Abbey.  The Abbey was founded in 1135 as a daughter house of Rievaulx Abbey in North Yorkshire. Over time the Cistercian order at Warden became very wealthy and the buildings were extended and lavishly decorated, this is certainly seen by the two exceptionally high quality tiled pavements, one in the church and the other in the Abbots lodgings.

In 1537 the abbey was dissolved, the abbey buildings were destroyed the materials sold off and the land passed into the hands of the Gostwick family who built a new mansion on the site. Though much of this early brick built mansion was destroyed in 1790 the north east wing is still standing.

Luckily most of the tiled pavements were not removed during the dissolution and remained fairly intact under the soil. The tiles were excavated in 1974 and are on loan to The Higgins from Mr Samuel Whitbread and the Southill Estate. This and several other tiles will be featured in our new displays from Spring 2013.

The remains of the Abbey in early 20th century in a 'ruinous state'. Today it is in far
better condition, restored in 1974 by the Landmark Trust.