Haughmond Abbey is just a couple of fields down the hill from out campsite. What we see today are the later buildings – by which I mean from 1135 onwards to the 15th century.
Founded by a group of hermits towards the end of the 11th century, the formal founding of an Augustinian Abbey took place in 1135 and the foundation prospered with the help of wealthy patrons and royal connections.
Like many abbeys and monasteries, Haughmond owned a great deal of land and, acording to the records, owned 26 mills in Shropshire at the end of the 13th century.
This is not the Abbey described in the Cadfael books. That was a Benedictine Abbey and is in Shrewsbury.
The Abbots Hall (above) must have been rather impressive and certainly shows no financial constraints, being built to impress.
Before the community was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1539, things had gone downhill. Financial irregularities, novices not receiving proper instruction, a ‘woman of ill repute’ was twice reported as visiting the Abbey, and boys had been found in the dormitories!
The site is in the care of English Heritage nowadays and is a peaceful place to wander and reflect.
More pictures on Picasa
I like the details in the other photos on that Picasa link.
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