Abingdon Abbey, Abbey ruins in Abingdon-on-Thames, England
Description
Abingdon Abbey consists of the remaining structures of a large monastery on the Thames, including the Long Gallery, the Checker building, and stone arches. The foundations of the original church are marked on the ground to show the impressive scale of the former complex.
History
The abbey was founded in 675 and grew to become one of England's wealthiest religious institutions. In 1538, Henry VIII ordered its dissolution, and the buildings were subsequently demolished or left to decay.
Culture
The abbey was a center of learning and manuscript production where monks copied and preserved religious and literary works. This work shaped education and thought across the region, making the site an important hub for knowledge in the medieval period.
Practical
The site is now a public garden where visitors can walk freely and explore the old foundations. Access is straightforward, and ground-level markers help visitors understand the layout of the original buildings.
Did you know?
In 1327, major unrest erupted between the abbey authorities and townspeople, resulting in several executions. These conflicts reveal the tensions between monastic power and local residents that shaped life in the medieval town.
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Abingdon County Hall Museum
431 m
Abingdon Bridge
361 m
Abingdon Lock
420 m
Cosener's House
207 m
Our Lady and St Edmund's Church, Abingdon
480 m
Nag's Head Island
397 m
St Nicolas' Church
404 m
Statue of Queen Victoria
216 m
The Broad Face Public House
361 m
The King's Head and Bell
448 m
The Crown And Thistle Hotel
356 m
Punch Bowl Public House
442 m
Police Station
395 m
The Nags Head Public House
350 m
Hospital of St John
451 m
The Checker Unicorn Theatre
258 m
The Long Gallery
238 m
8 And 9, Abbey Close
281 m
Fragments Of Monastic Buildings In Abbey Gardens
215 m
Abingdon Bridge including Maud Hale's Bridge
367 m
Garden piers and wall to the Hospital of St John
444 m
5, High Street
473 m
1A And 3, High Street
466 m
The Old Gaol
415 m
14, Abbey Close
231 m
Borough Buildings including Guildhall, Roysse's School and Gateway at West End of Guildhall
368 m
Roysses Court
368 m
Abbey Gate
366 mDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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