The Pynion End
(Grade II* listed in 1956)
(Grade II* listed in 1956)
Yet another mystery, akin to the Dovecote ~ the arch appears in 18th century views of the Abbey, but is missing from the 1814 survey, only 50 years later.
It was restored in 1846, heavily repaired in the 1920s, and was once more surrounded by scaffolding in 2005: but how old is it ? It is listed as 14th century, which puts it in line with the tower of the Parish Church, and might fit in with a period of Abbey development, but there several masonry schemes in the building, some of which don't tally with other buildings of similar age in the Abbey precinct. A 12th century stone, for example, is inserted in the back of the ground floor fireplace. The 2003 Conservation Plan comments that the Pynion end "may be part of the post-Dissolution house slighted during the Civil War ... or a folly". The Appreciation combines the two possibilities ~ "Probably formed east wall of narrow building (perhaps a refectory), gable end with fireplace on west side and buttresses on east. Apparently incorporated in Tudor manor house built after Dissolution and destroyed during Civil War".
And "pynion" ? Nothing to do with cogs and pinions ~ "pignon" is the French for "gable", but why it's not called simply "Gable End" adds to the uncertainty ~ perhaps it's romanticism at work.