Abbotsbury Abbey

The first reference to the site of Abbotsbury may be in a charter of King Edmund (r. 939–946) recording a grant of five hides of land at Abbedesburi to the thegn Sigewulf.Keynes, "The lost cartulary of Abbotsbury", p. 207. The name (Abbedesburi) may suggest that the land had once belonged to an abbot. During the reign of King Cnut (r. 1016–1035), the Scandinavian thegn Orc (also Urki, Urk) and his wife Tola took up residence in the area, having been granted land at Portesham.Keynes, "The lost cartulary of Abbotsbury", p. 208. Edward the Confessor (r. 1042–1066) also granted him Wootton and it was early in his reign that the couple founded a monastery at Abbotsbury, previously the site of a minor church. Orc and Tola, who had no children, enriched the monastery with a substantial amount of land, some of which was bequeathed after their deaths. By the time of the Domesday survey, Abbotsbury (itself worth 21 hides) was recorded to have held more than 65 hides of land TRE.Keynes, "The lost cartulary of Abbotsbury", p. 209. Orc also established his own guild, which according to the extant statutes, had its hall at Abbotsbury and protected the minster's interests.Dorothy Whitelock, English Historical Documents, no. 139.

During the 14th century the Black Death killed many villagers and also the abbot. Moreover, the village was repeatedly attacked from the sea, reducing the security of the abbey and its status. In addition, the area suffered depredations from the forces sent to man the coastal defences. Later that century and in the century following the Abbey's situation had started to improve somewhat. In 1535 and 1539 Henry VIII undertook the forcible Dissolution of the Monasteries. Under the last Abbot of Abbotsbury, Roger Roddon, the Abbey was dissolved in 1539,{{cite book|author1=David Knowles|author2=David M. Smith|author3=Christopher Nugent Lawrence Brooke|title=The Heads of Religious Houses: England and Wales, III. 1377–1540|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jjqMN2G8fGoC&pg=PA11|date=13 March 2008|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-86508-1|pages=11–2}} following a visit from Dr. Thomas Legh (Leigh, Lee).'Houses of Benedictine monks: The abbey of Abbotsbury', in William Page (ed.),  A History of the County of Dorset: Volume 2, London, 1908, pp. 48-53. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/dorset/vol2/pp48-53 [accessed 22 September 2020].

Upon the surrender of the abbey, on 12 March 1539, Abbot Roger Roddon, along with the prior and eight brethren received pensions: the abbot, £80; the prior, Thomas Bradford, £9; Thomas Tolpuddle, £7; six other brethren, including William Grey and John Vynsant, £6 to £5 each; Thomas Holnest, 40s.

Sir Giles Strangways{{cite web |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/dorset/vol2/pp48-53 |title = Houses of Benedictine monks: The abbey of Abbotsbury {{!}} British History Online}} (died 1546), the commissioner who had dissolved the monastery and who bought the abbey buildings, manor houses, water mills and Abbotsbury Swannery and much of the abbey's land for £1,906, 10s (equivalent to £{{formatnum:{{Inflation|UK|1906|1539|r=-4}}}} in {{Inflation-year|UK}}).{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}} On the one hand Strangways' own father had in fact been buried in the Abbey, and when he himself died in 1546 his will bequeathed £6 13s.4d. a year for two years for a priest to say Mass for the repose of his soul and the souls of his wife and son.{{cite web|url=http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-1558/member/strangways-sir-giles-i-1486-1546#footnote8_rohmb6j|title=Strangways, Sir Giles I (1486-1546), of Melbury Sampford, Dorset|publisher=History of Parliament Online|access-date=28 November 2024}}

Henry VIII granted the abbey site to Sir Giles Strangways. Much of the land still belongs to Strangways' descendants, the Earls of Ilchester.

{{Infobox coat of arms

|name = The Abbot of Abbotsbury

|shield = Azure three sets of two keys addorsed paleways bows interlaced wards in chief.{{cite book|title=A treatise on ecclesiastical heraldry |author=John Woodward |date=1894}}}}

• Humphrey Stafford (died 1413) and wife Elizabeth d'Aumale Mautravers Stafford
• Sir John Mautravers
• Humphrey Stafford (died 1442)

As was customary in such cases, Abbotsbury Abbey was largely demolished to maximize profit from the sale and to allow its stone to be reused.

The 14th century Tithe Barn, which at 272 ft by 31 ft is reputedly the largest thatched tithe barn in the world,{{cite web|url=http://jurassiccoast.org/visiting-the-coast/gateway-towns/445-abbotsbury|title=Abbotsbury|publisher=jurassiccoast.org|date=2012|access-date=17 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060718/http://jurassiccoast.org/visiting-the-coast/gateway-towns/445-abbotsbury|archive-date=21 September 2013|url-status=dead}} was spared. Though now only half roofed, the still impressive structure has two porches, each surmounted by a watching chamber. Also spared from the general destruction was St Catherine's Chapel, used at one time as a lookout across the sea and conversely as a landmark for mariners. Both are currently Grade I listed buildings and scheduled monuments.{{NHLE|num=1305209|desc=Abbotsbury Abbey Tithe Barn|grade=I|access-date=28 November 2024}}

{{NHLE|num=1172576|desc=Abbotsbury Abbey St Catherine's Chapel|grade=I|access-date=28 November 2024}} In the churchyard to the south of the present parish church, traces of the north wall of the abbey are visible. These remnants are also listed at Grade I.{{NHLE|num=1118743|desc=North Wall of Abbey Church of St Peter|grade=I|access-date=28 November 2024}} Other Grade I listed buildings at the site include the Malthouse,{{NHLE|num=1118747|desc=Abbotsbury Abbey Malthouse|grade=I|access-date=28 November 2024}} and the Dairy House.{{NHLE|num=1118706|desc=Abbotsbury Abbey Dairy House|grade=I|access-date=28 November 2024}} There are four structures listed at Grade II*; the Pigeon House,{{NHLE|num=1172244|desc=Abbotsbury Abbey Pigeon House|grade=II*|access-date=28 November 2024}} a gable end section of wall called Pynion's End,{{NHLE|num=1172220|desc=Abbotsbury Abbey Pynion End Gable|grade=II*|access-date=28 November 2024}} a gatehouse,{{NHLE|num=1118741|desc=Abbotsbury Abbey Outer Gatehouse|grade=II*|access-date=28 November 2024}} and a run of cottages, the Abbott's Walk.{{NHLE|num=1118746|desc=Abbotsbury Abbey Abbott's Walk|grade=II*|access-date=28 November 2024}} Grade II buildings include a gateway,{{NHLE|num=1118742|desc=Abbotsbury Abbey Gateway|grade=II|access-date=28 November 2024}} Abbey House,{{NHLE|num=1118748|desc=Abbey House|grade=II|access-date=28 November 2024}} and a Granary.{{NHLE|num=1118745|desc=Abbotsbury Abbey Granary|grade=II|access-date=28 November 2024}} The Abbey's former swannery is an internationally famous nature reserve.{{cite web|url=https://www.abbotsburyswannery.co.uk/history|title=Abbotsbury Swannery history|publisher=Abbotsbury Swannery|access-date=28 November 2024}}

Abbey Barn, Abbotsbury.jpg|The Grade I listed Tithe Barn

Part of North Wall of the Abbey Church of St Peter, Abbotsbury - geograph.org.uk - 4300273.jpg|Fragments of the Grade I listed abbey North Wall

The Abbey Dairyhouse - geograph.org.uk - 6489641.jpg|The Grade I listed Dairy House

Abbey House (geograph 6489683).jpg|The Grade II listed Abbey House, with the gable of the Grade I listed Malthouse on the extreme right

All that is left of the abbey church of St Peter, Abbotsbury - geograph.org.uk - 4203066.jpg|The Grade II* listed Pynion End gable, with the tithe barn beyond

Granary off Church Street Abbotsbury - geograph.org.uk - 4306002.jpg|The Grade II listed Granary

St Nicholas's Church, Abbotsbury - geograph.org.uk - 889509.jpg|The Grade II listed gateway

{{reflist}}

• {{Cite journal |last=Keynes |first=Simon |title=The Lost Cartulary of Abbotsbury |journal=Anglo-Saxon England |volume=18 |year=1989 |pages=207–43|doi=10.1017/S0263675100001496 }}
• {{Cite book |editor1=Knowles, David |editor2=C. N. L. Brooke |editor3=Vera C. M. London |title=The Heads of Religious Houses: England & Wales, I. 940–1216 |year=2001 |edition=2nd |location=Cambridge |publisher=CUP}}
• {{Cite book |title=The Victoria History of the County of Dorset |editor=Page, William |volume=2 |location=London |year=1908 }} Online: [https://archive.org/details/victoriahistoryo02page archive.org] (PDF) and [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=40138 british-history.ac.uk] (pp. 48–53)
• {{Cite book |last=Pitt-Rivers |first=Michael |year=1968 |title=Dorset |location=London |publisher=Faber & Faber }}
• {{Cite book |editor=Smith, David M. |editor2=Vera C. M. London |title=The Heads of Religious Houses: England & Wales, II. 1216–1377 |year=2001 |location=Cambridge |publisher=CUP}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://historicengland.org.uk/services-skills/education/educational-images/abbotsbury-abbey-abbotsbury-9892 Historical reconstruction of Abbotsbury Abbey from the air]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130811011945/http://www.abbotsbury.co.uk/abbotsbury-history.htm History of Abbotsbury]
• [http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/abbotsbury-abbey-remains/ Abbotsbury Abbey at English Heritage]
• [https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/abbotsbury-st-catherines-chapel/ St Catherine's Chapel: English Heritage]

{{Benedictine houses of England and Wales}}

Category:Monasteries in Dorset

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