Lilleshall Abbey

Lilleshall Abbey is the ruin of an Augustinian monastery in Shropshire with surviving stone walls and distinctive architectural features. Visitors find the remains of the church building, including a processional doorway and sections of what were once residential structures for the monks.

The abbey was founded in 1148 and served as a home for Augustinian canons for nearly 400 years. Its closure came in 1538 when King Henry VIII ordered the dissolution of monasteries across England.

The canons who lived here followed a life shaped by prayer and communal duties throughout each day. You can sense how religious rituals structured their existence within the abbey's walls.

The ruins sit in open countryside and can be visited from April through October each year. Parking is available at the entrance, though alternative parking nearby requires a short walk to reach the site.

The abbey operated a support system called Corrody where people could receive lifelong shelter and food in exchange for donating property. This early form of pension arrangement sustained the community for decades but eventually strained its finances.

Location: Lilleshall, Donnington and Muxton

Location: Lilleshall

Inception: 12 century

Website: https://english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/lilleshall-abbey

GPS coordinates: 52.72450,-2.39134

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:03