Haughmond Abbey
Encyclopedia
Haughmond Abbey at Haughmond Hill
in Shropshire
, otherwise known as the Abbey
of Saint
John the Evangelist
, was founded in about 1100 AD. A statue of St John with his emblem can be found carved into the arches of the chapter house
. His image also appeared on the Abbey's great seal
.
and Norman
Lord of Clun
. In 1135 he founded a priory
of Canons Regular
but having established itself as one of the Order's more influential houses, Haughmond was given Abbey status in 1155.
There are believed to have been some 24 canons
residing at the Abbey by the end of the 12th century. From the architectural evidence surviving today, it appears that it was once a thriving and prosperous community.
It was dissolved in 1539 as part of Henry VIII
's nationwide Dissolution of the Monasteries
. Records show that the then Abbot
and 10 canons were present at the signing of the deed of surrender, each of them receiving generous pensions. The annual income was estimated at just under £250.
After dissolution, the new owner Sir Edward Littleton converted the Abbots Hall and adjoining rooms into a private residence. Later history also shows that some of the other buildings around the little cloister
continued as private accommodation, with the Little Cloister becoming a formal garden, up until the English Civil War
.
There was a fire during the Civil War and it left the hands of the wealthy being turned over for use as a farm, a small cottage still stood in the area of the former abbots kitchen when the ruins were placed in the guardianship of the Office of Works
in 1933. Today English Heritage
looks after the site.
The standing remains are of white sandstone
rubble construction with ashlar
dressings. They include: the foundations and west cloister doorway of the late 12th and early 14th century church; the late 12th century chapter house; the west wall of the warming house and dorter; the walls of the frater and its undercroft; and the early 13th century infirmary, flanked by the abbot
's lodging to the east!
The abbey precinct is enclosed in part by a wall of undressed stone, which still stands around the south and west sides. The outer gatehouse and a possible inner gatehouse survive in earthwork form along with other buildings which may have been part of the Abbey. A reservoir and three possible fishponds can be identified, along with various other medieval features.
Apart from a few walls, little else has survived from the western side of the site and, at the northern edge, the abbey church has completely disappeared - although the cruciform ground plan is still clearly visible. A single Norman architecture
arch
ed doorway, leading from the nave
of the church into the cloister shows fine foliage moulding, with the sculptured figures of St Peter and Saint Paul
either side of the opening.
Haughmond Hill
Haughmond Hill is a small, shallow hill in the English county of Shropshire. It is covered by woodland for the most part, although there is an open cast quarry in use. Its proximity to the town of Shrewsbury has meant that it has become something of a forest park, with guided paths, car parking...
in Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, otherwise known as the Abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
of Saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
John the Evangelist
John the Evangelist
Saint John the Evangelist is the conventional name for the author of the Gospel of John...
, was founded in about 1100 AD. A statue of St John with his emblem can be found carved into the arches of the chapter house
Chapter house
A chapter house or chapterhouse is a building or room attached to a cathedral or collegiate church in which meetings are held. They can also be found in medieval monasteries....
. His image also appeared on the Abbey's great seal
Seal (device)
A seal can be a figure impressed in wax, clay, or some other medium, or embossed on paper, with the purpose of authenticating a document ; but the term can also mean the device for making such impressions, being essentially a mould with the mirror image of the design carved in sunken- relief or...
.
History
The Abbey began as a small religious community towards the end of the 11th century. During the 1130s it attracted the patronage of William d'Aubigny, 1st Earl of ArundelWilliam d'Aubigny, 1st Earl of Arundel
William d'Aubigny, 1st Earl of Lincoln and 1st Earl of Arundel , also known as William d'Albini, was son of William d'Aubigny, 'Pincerna' of Old Buckenham Castle in Norfolk, and Maud Bigod, daughter of Roger Bigod, 1st Earl of Norfolk.-Marriage and Issue:The younger William was an important member...
and Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
Lord of Clun
Clun
Clun is a small town in Shropshire, England. The town is located entirely in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The 2001 census recorded 642 people living in the town...
. In 1135 he founded a priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
of Canons Regular
Canons Regular
Canons Regular are members of certain bodies of Canons living in community under the Augustinian Rule , and sharing their property in common...
but having established itself as one of the Order's more influential houses, Haughmond was given Abbey status in 1155.
There are believed to have been some 24 canons
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
residing at the Abbey by the end of the 12th century. From the architectural evidence surviving today, it appears that it was once a thriving and prosperous community.
It was dissolved in 1539 as part of Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
's nationwide Dissolution of the Monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
. Records show that the then Abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
and 10 canons were present at the signing of the deed of surrender, each of them receiving generous pensions. The annual income was estimated at just under £250.
After dissolution, the new owner Sir Edward Littleton converted the Abbots Hall and adjoining rooms into a private residence. Later history also shows that some of the other buildings around the little cloister
Cloister
A cloister is a rectangular open space surrounded by covered walks or open galleries, with open arcades on the inner side, running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle or garth...
continued as private accommodation, with the Little Cloister becoming a formal garden, up until the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
.
There was a fire during the Civil War and it left the hands of the wealthy being turned over for use as a farm, a small cottage still stood in the area of the former abbots kitchen when the ruins were placed in the guardianship of the Office of Works
Office of Works
The Office of Works was established in the English Royal household in 1378 to oversee the building of the royal castles and residences. In 1832 it became the Works Department within the Office of Woods, Forests, Land Revenues, Works and Buildings...
in 1933. Today English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
looks after the site.
The standing remains are of white sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
rubble construction with ashlar
Ashlar
Ashlar is prepared stone work of any type of stone. Masonry using such stones laid in parallel courses is known as ashlar masonry, whereas masonry using irregularly shaped stones is known as rubble masonry. Ashlar blocks are rectangular cuboid blocks that are masonry sculpted to have square edges...
dressings. They include: the foundations and west cloister doorway of the late 12th and early 14th century church; the late 12th century chapter house; the west wall of the warming house and dorter; the walls of the frater and its undercroft; and the early 13th century infirmary, flanked by the abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
's lodging to the east!
The abbey precinct is enclosed in part by a wall of undressed stone, which still stands around the south and west sides. The outer gatehouse and a possible inner gatehouse survive in earthwork form along with other buildings which may have been part of the Abbey. A reservoir and three possible fishponds can be identified, along with various other medieval features.
Apart from a few walls, little else has survived from the western side of the site and, at the northern edge, the abbey church has completely disappeared - although the cruciform ground plan is still clearly visible. A single Norman architecture
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
arch
Arch
An arch is a structure that spans a space and supports a load. Arches appeared as early as the 2nd millennium BC in Mesopotamian brick architecture and their systematic use started with the Ancient Romans who were the first to apply the technique to a wide range of structures.-Technical aspects:The...
ed doorway, leading from the nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
of the church into the cloister shows fine foliage moulding, with the sculptured figures of St Peter and Saint Paul
Paul of Tarsus
Paul the Apostle , also known as Saul of Tarsus, is described in the Christian New Testament as one of the most influential early Christian missionaries, with the writings ascribed to him by the church forming a considerable portion of the New Testament...
either side of the opening.