Egglestone Abbey is a lovely site high on a bluff above a bend on the River Tees, close to Barnard Castle. It is best seen from across the river on the road from the A66 at Rokeby Park to Barnard Castle.
It was founded by the Premonstratensian ‘white canons’ between 1195-, who always chose remote locations, but close to running water. It was always small, never very wealthy and had few endowments. It was frequently unable to pay its taxes. There were never more than fifteen canons and several served as vicars of nearby churches.
It wsa a similar plan to other abbeys with cloiser with the church and other buildings around it.
After the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the site was acquired by John Strelley and his wife, who converted the the north and east ranges into a mansion with a kitchen installed in the western range. The tower of the abbey church was demolished as it spoilt the view from their new house. The rest of the abbey buildings were used as building stone for nearby farm buildings.
The house passed through many owners before being bought along with Rokeby Park by John Morritt. Estate workers lived here until the late 1800s when the house fell into disrepair.The ruins were placed under state guardianship in 1925 and are now in the care of English Heritage.
The ruins include part of the nave and chancel of the C13th church. The rest of the buildings are marked by foundations in the grass.
The tomb under the crossing with its top missing was that of Sir Ralph Bowes of Streatlam.
There are other medieval grave slabs in the chancel and also an inscribed grave slab to Thomas, an illegitimate son of the Rokeby family.
The east wall of the mansion still stands to nearly its full height and was originally the canon’s dormitory. Below is the undercroft still with its big fireplace.
There isn’t a lot left of the abbey, but it is a lovely place to drop out on a sunny day. Entry is free too.
Website:
It was founded by the Premonstratensian ‘white canons’ between 1195-, who always chose remote locations, but close to running water. It was always small, never very wealthy and had few endowments. It was frequently unable to pay its taxes. There were never more than fifteen canons and several served as vicars of nearby churches.
It wsa a similar plan to other abbeys with cloiser with the church and other buildings around it.
After the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the site was acquired by John Strelley and his wife, who converted the the north and east ranges into a mansion with a kitchen installed in the western range. The tower of the abbey church was demolished as it spoilt the view from their new house. The rest of the abbey buildings were used as building stone for nearby farm buildings.
The house passed through many owners before being bought along with Rokeby Park by John Morritt. Estate workers lived here until the late 1800s when the house fell into disrepair.The ruins were placed under state guardianship in 1925 and are now in the care of English Heritage.
The ruins include part of the nave and chancel of the C13th church. The rest of the buildings are marked by foundations in the grass.
The tomb under the crossing with its top missing was that of Sir Ralph Bowes of Streatlam.
There are other medieval grave slabs in the chancel and also an inscribed grave slab to Thomas, an illegitimate son of the Rokeby family.
The east wall of the mansion still stands to nearly its full height and was originally the canon’s dormitory. Below is the undercroft still with its big fireplace.
There isn’t a lot left of the abbey, but it is a lovely place to drop out on a sunny day. Entry is free too.
Website:
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