Lesnes Abbey

[4] After the Norman Conquest in 1066, the area of Lesnes, close to the town of Erith, passed into the possession of Bishop Odo, and was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Loisnes in the Hundred of Litlelai.

Produced for the Abbey between 1200 and 1220 in Oxford and Kent and now in the Victoria & Albert Museum in South Kensington, London, the 'Lesnes Missal' was possibly commissioned by him or a family member as it features references to the de Luci coat of arms.

A group from Erith forced their way into nearby Lesnes Abbey and made the abbot (an important local landlord) to swear an oath to support them.

[8] Abbots also took a leading part in draining the marshland, but this and the cost of maintaining river embankments led to the Abbey suffering chronic financial difficulties.

Henry Cooke acquired the site in 1541 and it eventually passed to Sir John Hippersley who salvaged building materials, before selling the property to Thomas Hawes of London in 1632.

In the late 18th or early 19th century a mulberry tree (Morus nigra) was planted on what had been the Abbey's north side - this still stands and is now externally propped.

In modern times the site has been restored to show some of the walls and the entire outline of the abbey is visible giving a good idea of the size and atmosphere of the original place.