Editing Pershore Abbey (section)

===Later Middle Ages===
The main building was begun in about 1100.  In the fourteenth century it benefited greatly from the generosity of [[Adam de Harvington]], [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] 1327–30, who was a cousin,  and eventually  the heir, of the Abbot, William of Harvington. The abbey was [[Dissolution of the Monasteries|dissolved]] in 1539. A monk of Pershore, named Richard Beerly, was one of those who gave evidence to [[Thomas Cromwell]] in 1536 about the misbehaviour of some of his brothers, writing that "Monckes drynk an bowll after collacyon tell ten or xii of the clock, and cum to mattens as dronck as myss, and sume at cardes, sume at dyss."{{refn|{{cite book|editor-last=Wright|editor-first=Thomas|series=Camden Society Old Series: Volume XXVI|title=Three Chapters of Letters Relating to the Suppression of Monasteries|chapter=LX. Richard Beerly to Cromwell|date=September 1843 |volume=26|page=133|doi=10.1017/S2042169900009135|chapter-url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/camden-old-series/volume/three-chapters-of-letters-relating-to-the-suppression-of-monasteries/452A16E6B89E1ACD58DCB382F1D2BB68?sort=canonical.position%3Aasc&pageNum=4}} 
This is an 1843 edition of original MSS in the [[British Museum]] (see also [https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/camden-old-series/article/rho-volume-26-front-matter/9C3034FAA76DB66932F3F1AFD58E6476 Front cover]). See also {{cite book |title=Oxford English Dictionary |volume=X |edition=online 2nd |year=1989 |chapter=Mouse, n. 2  |chapter-url=http://www.oed.com/oed2/00152513 |access-date=7 March 2019}}, which cites this passage as ''Lett. Suppress. Monast.'' (Camden) 133. }} (Monks drink a bowl after [[collation (meal)|collation]]{{refn|The term 'collation' in this context refers to the practice in [[Benedictine]] monasteries, such as Pershore, of reading extracts from [[John Cassian]]'s ''Collationes patrum in Scetica eremo''<ref>Lit. 'Conferences with the fathers of [[Wadi El Natrun|Scetis]] in the desert'), written in around 420, usually translated as ''Conferences with the [[Desert Fathers]]''.)</ref> in the hours between the evening meal following [[Vespers]], and before [[Compline]]. This was according to Chapter 42 of the [[Rule of Saint Benedict]] written in the 6th century. All meals were to be eaten in daylight.<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Chapter XLII: That No One Speak after Compline |title=The Holy Rule of St. Benedict |year=1949 |orig-year=c540 |author1=St. Benedict |author-link=St Benedict |author2=Verheyen,Boniface (trans) |chapter-url=http://catholicfirst.com/thefaith/catholicclassics/benedict/benedict.html |access-date=8 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Addis|first1=William E.|last2=Press|first2=Aeterna|title=A Catholic Dictionary|year=1961|publisher=Aeterna Press|language=en|page=699|quote=St. Benedict in his rule requires his religious to assemble after supper and before Compline and listen to the 'Collations'—i.e. the ''Conferences'' (of [[John Cassian|Cassian]]), the [[Lives of the Fathers]], or other edifying books which were then read aloud by one of their number.}}</ref> By the 9th century the strict rules about [[fasting]] had become more relaxed, and the term 'collation' became more generally associated with the indulgence of a light meal, especially on fast days.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09152a.htm "Lent"], ''Catholic Encyclopedia''. Retrieved 9 March 2019</ref> }} until ten or twelve o'clock, and come to [[Matins]] as drunk as mice, some [playing] at cards, some at dice.){{refn|Since collation took place in the evening before [[Compline]], and [[Matins]] finished at dawn (see [[canonical hours#Daily cycle of services|Canonical hours]]), it appears the monks were drinking all night long.}}[[File:Pershore Abbey - geograph.org.uk - 1057540.jpg|right|300px]]Pershore Abbey church was partly demolished after the reformation when it was surrendered to the King's Commissioners in 1540; only the tower, choir, and south transept remain.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1057540|title=Geograph:: Pershore Abbey (C) Philip Halling|website=www.geograph.org.uk|language=en|access-date=2020-04-15}}</ref> The abbey church remained in use as a [[parish church]]. When the north [[transept]] collapsed in 1686, a wall was built in its place. Further alterations were carried out, including a [[Victorian restoration|restoration]] by [[George Gilbert Scott]] in 1862–64. Scott removed the [[Belfry (architecture)|belfry]] floor and opened up the [[lantern tower]], exposing the internal [[tracery]] which he thought the best in England after that at [[Lincoln Cathedral]]. The tower pinnacles were added in 1871.<ref name="Crawford">Wilson, Dr. M. and Crawford, Rev. K., ''Pershore Abbey'', Official Abbey Guide, 2008, {{ISBN|1-872-665-22-5}}, pp.11-13</ref> In 1913, two western [[flying buttress]]es were added to replace the support from the missing portion of the building.