Lesnes Abbey

The ruins of Lesnes Abbey tell a story of power, penance and profound change. Founded in 1178 by Richard de Luci as an act of atonement for his role in the murder of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, the Abbey stood for over 350 years before becoming one of the first religious houses to be dissolved by Cardinal Wolsey.

Now a Scheduled Ancient Monument set within 88 hectares of ancient woodland and nationally important geological features, Lesnes Abbey remains a place where history and landscape are deeply intertwined. The site is treasured by local communities and carefully protected in partnership with Historic England, while its woodlands and open spaces continue to support rich biodiversity.

In 2026, the 500th anniversary of the Abbey’s dissolution offers a moment to reflect on this turning point in national and local history. Together with Bexley Council, the Friends of Lesnes Abbey & Woods and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, DigVentures are leading a community archaeological excavation. Beneath the grass and soil, there may still be undiscovered remains waiting to reshape our understanding of this remarkable site.

We have one week to work together to uncover new clues about Lesnes Abbey and the landscape that surrounds it.

Through carefully targeted excavation trenches, we’ll investigate areas where buried remains of the Abbey may still survive. Every layer of soil will be gently removed, examined and recorded, helping us build a clearer picture of how the site developed, and what may have been lost 500 years ago.

Image: Lesnes Abbey by Marathon