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Abbeys and Monasteries in England

Most of these medieval marvels are in ruins. For some that aren't, check out Cathedrals.
Or see Abbeys in Scotland | Wales

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Shaftesbury Abbey Museum and Garden Location map Shaftesbury, Dorset Shaftesbury Abbey was founded by King Alfred around 888AD, and Alfred's daughter Aethelgiva was the first Abbess. The town grew up around the abbey during the late Saxon period, and gained in importance to the point where it was granted the right to have no less than three money minters under Aethelstan. During the medieval period the Abbey was a popular destination for pilgrims who flocked to the shrine of St. Edward. The excavated remains of the abbey church lies within a walled garden, and the Shaftesbury Abbey Museum traces the history of the site. Park Walk, Shaftesbury, Dorset, England, SP7 8JR Location: in the town centre Website: Shaftesbury Abbey Museum and Garden Email: user@shaftesburyabbey.co.uk Phone: 01747 852 910 Fax: 01747 852 910 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Shap Abbey Shap, Cumbria A rare Premonstratensian house, founded around 1200 in a bleak setting. The most notable remain is that of the huge west tower. Shap, Cumbria, England Location: 1½ miles W of Shap on the bank of the River Lowther Website: Shap Abbey English Heritage Photo Credit: David Ross and Britain Express Details of Shap Abbey Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

St Augustine's Abbey Location map Canterbury, Kent In this case the abbey isn't just dedicated to St. Augustine, it was actually founded by him, in 598, to house the monks he brought with him to convert the Britons to Christianity. Longport, Canterbury, Kent, England, CT1 1TF Location: quarter mile E of Cathedral Close in Longport Website: St Augustine's Abbey Phone: 01227 767 345 English Heritage Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Stoke-sub-Hamdon Priory Location map Stoke-sub-Hamdon, Somerset The Great Hall of this 14th/15th century complex of farm buildings is open to visitors. North Street, Stoke-sub-Hamdon, Somerset, England, TA14 6QP Location: 2 miles W of Montacute between the A303 and the A3088 Website: Stoke-sub-Hamdon Priory Email: stokehamdonpriory@nationaltrust.org.uk Phone: 01935 823 289 National Trust Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Thornton Abbey Location map Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire Augustinian Abbey founded in 1139, but the chief interest here is the massive 14th century gatehouse, possibly built in response to the Peasant's Revolt of 1381. The gatehouse is remarkable for its early use of brick as a building material. Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, DN39 6TU Location: 10 m E Scunthorpe, off A160 Website: Thornton Abbey Phone: 01469 541 445 English Heritage Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Titchfield Abbey Titchfield, Hampshire Titchfield Abbey is a fortified manor built upon the ruins of a medieval monastery. The monastery was built in 1237 by the Premonstratensian order. The extensive ruins of the 13th century abbey are dwarfed by an imposing Tudor gatehouse built from the nave of the abbey church. Titchfield, Hampshire, England Location: ½ mile N Titchfield, off A27 Website: Titchfield Abbey Phone: 01329 842 133 English Heritage Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Wetheral Priory Wetheral, Cumbria All that remains of a 12th century Benedictine Priory is a lovely red sandstone 3 story gatehouse dating from the 16th century. The gatehouse survived the Dissolution of the Monasteries because it was used as the parish vicarage. In the medieval period accused criminals could avoid punishment if they joined to fight the Scots here. Wetheral, Cumbria, England Location: On the B6263 at Wetheral, 3 miles south east of Carlisle. The Priory is on the southern boundary of Wetheral. Free entry, and easily viewed from the roadside. Website: Wetheral Priory English Heritage Photo Credit: David Ross and Britain Express Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Whitby Abbey Location map Whitby, Yorkshire Early English abbey ruins, the site of Count Dracula's (fictional) landing in England. More importantly, Whitby was the site of the 7th century synod of early bishops which established the supremacy of Roman Catholicism over the Celtic church in Britain. Whitby, Yorkshire, England, YO22 4JT Location: on clifftop E of Whitby Website: Whitby Abbey Phone: 01947 603568 English Heritage Photo Credit: David Ross and Britain Express Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Woburn Abbey Location map Woburn, Bedfordshire Seat of the Dukes of Bedford, a Jacobean house remodelled by Flitcroft and Henry Holland into a treasure house of ceramics, furniture, and paintings. A remarkable (or merely peculiar, depending on your viewpoint) 17th century grotto ends the tour. Woburn, Bedfordshire, England, MK17 9WA Location: 8 m NW Dunstable, on A4012 Website: Woburn Abbey Email: admissions@woburnabbey.co.uk Phone: 01525 292 148 Fax: 01525 290 271 Details of Woburn Abbey Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

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