Waverley Abbey 🏰
These ruins are the remains of Britain's first Cistercian monastery. Waverley Abbey was founded in 1128 by William Giffard, bishop of Winchester. It was home to a Cistercian community for more than 400 years.
In its heyday, up to 70 monks and 120 lay brothers lived and worshipped here. The ruins you see today are part of a central group of buildings which stood within 60 acres, enclosed by a stone wall.
The abbey like many others was suppressed by King Henry VIII in 1536. The monks were dispersed and the site granted to Sir William FitzWilliam, later earl of Southampton. He built a house here, incorporating some of the monastic structures.
Several families held the property through to the early 18th century, when a new house was built to the north. The abbey ruins were then incorporated into picturesque parkland. The 18th century house, which still stands behind us here, was later extended and rebuilt.
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I love these posts. They smell of history and adventure.
Fascinating that this was Britain’s first Cistercian monastery. The scale of the community and the history up to its dissolution under Henry VIII make it even more impressive.