Chapter XXII: Appendix: E

ATHELNEY ABBEY

(p. 115)

The Abbey of Athelney was founded by king Alfred, in pious gratitude for mercies received. There are no remains now visible on its site. The materials have doubtless passed into the neighbouring farm buildings. The spot is marked by a monumental pillar, which was erected in 1801 by the then proprietor of the land, with an historical inscription, which is not too inaccurate for the time in which it was composed. It runs thus:

King Ælfred the Great, in the year of our Lord 879, having been
defeated by the Danes, fled for refuge to the forest of Athelney,
where he lay concealed from his enemies for the space of a whole
year. He soon after regained possession of the throne; and in
grateful remembrance of the protection he had received, under the
favour of Heaven, he erected a monastery on this spot, and endowed it
with all the lands contained in the Isle of Athelney. To perpetuate
the memory of so remarkable an incident in the life of that
illustrious prince, this edifice was founded by John Slade, Esq., of
Maunsel, the proprietor of Athelney, and lord of the manor of North
Petherton, A.D. 1801.

The present representative of this gentleman is his great-great-grandson, Sir Cuthbert Slade of Maunsel, Bart., lord of the Manor of North Petherton.

The Abbey of Athelney never attained to any considerable wealth or importance; but a sculptured boss, which was found on the site, and which is here figured in two aspects, after drawings by Mr. Alfred A. Clarke of Wells, seems to indicate some costly architecture among the abbey buildings in the fourteenth century.