Yet another post about our trip into Shropshire over the bank holiday weekend at the end of August. I'm conscious that I also promised posts about Wroxetter Roman City and Attingham Park but things are catching up with me and I probably won't get around to them now. We couldn't take photos inside Attingham but it was great to see inside again last Monday on BBC 4 during Lucy Worsley's new series on 'The Age of the Regency' which I'm really enjoying. Anyway back to earlier times and the ruins of a medieval monastery.
The ruins of this former Augustinian abbey are quite substantial, including the remains of the abbot's quarters, refectory and cloisters as well as the chapter house.
Haughmond, which was founded in 1135 by William Fitzalan, is just north east of Shrewsbury and nestles beautifully on the slope of Haughmond Hill.
On the hill is an area known locally as 'Douglas's Leap' because it was from here that the Earl of Douglas in flight from the Battle of Shrewsbury fell from his horse and was captured by Henry IV's men. The battle between Lancastrian King Henry and rebels led by Henry 'Hotspur' Percy, one of the bloodiest of the Wars of the Roses, was fought, in 1403, about two miles from the abbey.
The abbey was finally dissolved in 1539 during the mass dissolution of monasteries ordered by Henry VIII at this time there were ten canons and an abbot in residence.
The Chapter House has a wooden roof of about 1500 and houses an octagonal font and several stone tombstones which may have been placed there when the abbey church was dismantled. The Chapter House is where the canons would meet to discuss the day to day running of the abbey.
The abbey passed into private hands, namely those of Sir Edward Littlejohn and later Sir Rowland Hill (not the postal reformer) and the Barker family. Much of the land was used for farming.
The ruins are surrounded by fields and we were watched carefully by the local sheep as we wandered around.
The ruins were taken over in the 1930s by the Secretary of State and later by English Heritage who administer and care for the site today
'bye for now.
I bet the abbey looked amazing when it was in its prime. I hope everything is ok Rosie. See you when you return! x
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful building Rosie. This is one aspect of living abroad that I miss....how I long for a trip to one of these historic sites!
ReplyDeleteMarie x
Even if they're ruins, they're still very beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLovely photos of a wonderfully romantic ruin. But how on earth do you pronounce Haughmond?
ReplyDeleteI've really enjoyed these photos as this is the place we didn't manage to fit in when we did a 'shropshire day' just before Dave moved!
ReplyDeleteWhat a romantic ruin. I think it is beautiful, just the way it is.
ReplyDeleteThe carved lion is fascinating. I think it looks more like a pussy cat with attitude.
What a gorgeous abbey! It's a shame that they were all broken up...I can just imagine what it must have looked like before!
ReplyDeleteI really love the stone masonary... love watching that created and still wonder if I might have loved that vocation. We all love your 'places' posts, we visit places we can't reach. Love Helen, Darcy and Bingley xxx
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful abbey .... still quite a lot so see. I wonder what would have happened if Henry hadn't destroyed them all. Would they still be there today in all their glory?
ReplyDeletexxx
what lovely photo's. thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThese old Abbeys are very special. Quite mystical I think. xxx
ReplyDeleteLovely photos as usual, love the collage.
ReplyDeleteI've never been there. I looks wonderful. I really shold head west more often!wransf
ReplyDeleteThe building looks like it has just the right mix of conservation and distress to make it the perfect setting for a romantic novel or film. Judging by your photographs it looks like many of the original features have survived the centuries.
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