On
another lovely day I took myself off to explore the remains of Haughmond Abbey,
which was founded in 1135.
It’s
not far from Shrewsbury and I followed another brown sign. Unfortunately
due to an overhanging tree, I didn’t see the entrance until I’d driven past and
ended up in Abby Wood oops!
After
a quick turn-around I found the car park and was actually the first visitor
that morning.
In
the Abbots hall and private withdrawing room, there are some beautiful carvings.
These are
on the inside of the windows in the Abbots withdrawing room.
Medieval
floor tiles.
The
powerful FitzAlan family, Lords of Oswestry and Clun, were the Abbey patrons
and over the next few centuries their growing influence and royal connections
meant the Abbey received generous gifts and endowments.
The
remains of the Abbey kitchens with their two huge fireplaces, I could easily
stand in them, even as ruins it was a long way up!
The
Chapter House.
Carved
representations of St Augustine, St Thomas Beckett, St Catherine, St John the
Evangelist, St John the Baptist, St Margaret of Antioch and St Winifred are
depicted around the arches of the Chapter House.
I’m not sure which saints are in the
photograph below.
A
cresset stone is a type of light; hollows in the stone were filled with either
oil or tallow and contained a wick. As
they were very difficult to overturn they could be safely be left burning when
the canons attended night services in the church.
In
1593 after the Dissolution, the Abbots Lodging became a fine residence. After a fire in the 1640’s the buildings
were rented out as a farm.
By
the middle of the 18th century the abbey was incorporated into the
Sundorne Estate and the ruins became the centrepiece of a romantic landscaped
park.
English
Heritage took over the care of the Abbey in 1984.
Have fun, we are!
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