Beaulieu Abbey facts for kids
The cloister and refectory of Beaulieu Abbey seen from the west range
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | The Abbey Church of St Mary, Bellus Locus Regis (Latin: "The beautiful place of the king") |
| Other names | Beaulieu Abbey |
| Order | Cistercian |
| Established | 1203/1204 |
| Disestablished | 1538 |
| Mother house | Cîteaux Abbey, France |
| Dedicated to | Virgin Mary |
| Diocese | Winchester |
| Controlled churches | Shilton, Inglesham, Coxwell, St Keverne |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | King John |
| Important associated figures | King John, Thomas Wriothesley, 1st Earl of Southampton, Abbot Thomas Stevens |
| Site | |
| Location | Beaulieu, Hampshire, England |
| Visible remains | cloister, refectory (now the parish church) and west range, gatehouse, foundations of the church, many other ruins, earthworks |
| Public access | yes |
Beaulieu Abbey was a large Cistercian abbey in Hampshire, England. It was started in 1203 or 1204 by King John. Thirty monks from the Cistercian order's main abbey in Cîteaux, France, came to live here. The abbey's Latin name, Bellus Locus Regis, means "The beautiful place of the king".
Contents
History of Beaulieu Abbey
How Beaulieu Abbey Started
The first leader of Beaulieu Abbey was Hugh. He was very important to King John and often helped with special missions. King John gave the new abbey many gifts. These included lands, money, building materials, and even cows and wine.
King Henry III, John's son, was also very generous. This made Beaulieu Abbey quite rich. Monks from Beaulieu later started four other abbeys. These were Netley Abbey, Hailes Abbey, Newenham Abbey, and St Mary Graces Abbey.
Amazing Abbey Buildings
The buildings at Beaulieu Abbey were very grand. They showed how important this royal abbey was. The main church was huge, about 102 meters (335 feet) long. It was built in an early Gothic style. Its design was like French churches of the same order.
It took over 40 years to build the church. It was officially opened in 1246. Important people like King Henry III and his queen were there. South of the church was a cloister, a covered walkway. Around it were rooms for the monks, like the dining hall and kitchen. There was also a separate hospital area. The abbey had workshops, farms, guesthouses, and gardens. Strong gatehouses and a wall protected the abbey.
Special Sanctuary Rights
Pope Innocent III gave Beaulieu Abbey special rights. It was an "exempt abbey," meaning its abbot only answered to the Pope, not local bishops. Beaulieu also had strong sanctuary rights. This meant people seeking safety could come to the abbey grounds. This area was very large, about 23.5 hectares (58 acres).
Because of these rights, Beaulieu became a safe place for people in trouble. This included people who owed money or those who had committed crimes. Even political enemies of the king found safety there. For example, Anne Neville, a powerful noblewoman, came here after a battle in 1471. Later, Perkin Warbeck, who claimed to be a prince, also fled to Beaulieu.
The Abbey Closes Down
In 1535, King Henry VIII started to take control of church money. Beaulieu Abbey was quite wealthy, so it wasn't immediately closed. However, changes were coming.
The last abbot of Beaulieu was Abbot Thomas Stevens. He had been the abbot of another abbey that had already closed. Beaulieu Abbey finally had to close in April 1538. Many monks received money to live on. Abbot Thomas got a good yearly payment. He later became a church official in Salisbury Cathedral.
When the abbey closed, there were 32 people living there who had sought sanctuary. They were allowed to stay in their homes on the abbey grounds. Some people who had committed crimes were even pardoned.
From Abbey to Country Mansion
After the abbey closed, many people wanted to own its valuable lands. Finally, Thomas Wriothesley, 1st Earl of Southampton, received the abbey and a huge amount of land from King Henry VIII.
Wriothesley quickly started building a new home. He pulled down the main church, which was common. But instead of turning the cloister buildings into his home, he used the large gatehouse. This gatehouse, much bigger now, is still the main part of the house called Palace House today. Lord Southampton saved the monks' dining hall. He gave it to the people of Beaulieu village to be their church. It is still used as a church today. The west side of the abbey, called the Domus, was also saved. The rest of the abbey was left to become ruins.
Beaulieu Abbey Today
Even though much was destroyed, there is still a lot to see at Beaulieu Abbey. You can see the outline of the huge 102-meter-long church on the grass. The spot where the altar used to be is marked. The Domus, where the lay brothers lived, is now a museum. It shows what monastic life was like. You can see beautiful embroidered wall hangings there.
The monks' dining hall is still the local church. Many other abbey buildings are still in ruins. The abbey cloister is a peaceful garden with sweet-smelling herbs. Beaulieu is still owned by the family of Thomas Wriothesley.
Beaulieu Abbey is part of a bigger visitor attraction called "Beaulieu." This includes:
- Beaulieu Abbey
- National Motor Museum
- Beaulieu Palace House
- World of Top Gear
- Secret Army Exhibition (about World War II training)
- Gardens
- A monorail
- Fun rides
The Domus building is often used for special events and parties.
Folklore and Legends
How the Abbey Was Founded
Beaulieu Abbey was the only religious place King John ever started. A legend says that King John was angry with the Cistercian monks. He supposedly had a dream where the monks he had mistreated punished him. He woke up feeling sore from the dream. Because of this dream, he decided to build Beaulieu Abbey for 30 monks. It is said that the king was very interested in building the abbey. He even wanted to be buried under its main altar.
Reported Ghost Sightings
Beaulieu is known as one of the most haunted places in Britain. People have reported seeing ghosts there for over a hundred years.
Some people have heard the sound of Gregorian chant, which is old church singing. This is seen as a sign by local tradition. Famous people like Mrs. Elizabeth Varley and Michael C. Sedgwick have reported hearing these sounds.
Many people have also seen ghostly monks in the abbey ruins and the church. The actress Margaret Rutherford reported seeing one. There is a story about boys hiding from a storm who saw a ghost boat.
An old vicar of Beaulieu, Reverend Robert Frazer Powles, even claimed to talk to ghostly monks. He said he knew their names. He even held a special midnight mass for them every Christmas Eve.
Beaulieu in Culture
Books and Poems
Beaulieu Abbey is the setting for the first part of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's historical novel The White Company.
F. T. Prince wrote a poem called "At Beaulieu." It describes a special coffin at the abbey. Sir John Betjeman's poem "Youth and Age on Beaulieu River" is also about a visit to the area.
Beaulieu Abbey is also important in Edward Rutherfurd's big novel The Forest.
TV Appearances
Because it's known for being haunted, Beaulieu Abbey has been on TV many times:
- The NBC documentary The Stately Ghosts of England in 1965.
- The BBC Worldwide special Ghostwatch Live in 2001.
- The Antix Productions show Most Haunted Live! in 2003.
People Buried at the Abbey
- Isabel Marshal
- Thomas Skevington
Images for kids
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Historical ground plan of the abbey, from the description by Hope and Brakspear (1906)
