Abbot Penny's Wall

Abbot Penny's Wall is a boundary structure made of red and blue bricks in Abbey Park, featuring complex patterns with crosses and a chalice formed from contrasting stones. The structure extends across a significant length and preserves the original craftsmanship methods from the early 1500s.

John Penny, who served as Abbot of Leicester between 1496 and 1509, commissioned this wall to mark the boundaries of Leicester Abbey's grounds. It dates from the early 16th century and reflects the construction practices of that monastic period.

The wall displays the initials J.P. woven into its decorative pattern and ranks among England's finest examples of medieval patterned brickwork. Visitors can see the craftsmanship of that era directly in the contrasting colored stones.

The wall sits within Abbey Park and can be easily viewed from outside without special access. It is best visited in clear weather to see the intricate details of the brick patterns and colored designs clearly.

Some of the stones in the wall come from Charnwood granite, a natural stone variety from the Leicester region. This combination of local materials with the patterned brickwork shows how craftspeople of the time skillfully used what was available nearby.