TREASURE DESCRIPTION: The foundations of the Chapter House are all that remain of Merton Priory, founded in 1117, which played a most significant role politically and religiously during the medieval period. The foundations are preserved in a chamber under the Meratun Way. The Chapter House of this Augustinian Priory was often used for religious and political assemblies. Every day, a ‘chapter’ of the Rules of St Augustine would be read, confessions heard and business matters transacted. Many significant medieval characters were associated with the Priory owing to its proximity to London and size (it was as large as Westminster Abbey). The Statutes of Merton drawn up here in 1236 are considered to be hugely important in the development of the English constitution and are the first law on the English statute book. The Priory was dissolved in 1538 and soon fell into disrepair with much of the stone being removed to build Nonsuch Palace. The site remained hidden until the 20th Century and it was only fully excavated between 1986 and 1990 by the Museum of London during the building of Savacentre supermarket. 31 Priors were buried in the Chapter House in wooden and stone coffins.
These treasures were made as part of The Building Exploratory, Wandle Treasures project. This project was part of the wider Living Wandle Landscape Partnership Scheme, funded by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund.
