Biddlesden Abbey facts for kids
Biddlesden Abbey was a Cistercian abbey, which is a type of Christian monastery. It was started in 1147 by a man named Arnold de Bosco. He worked for the Earl of Leicester.
The abbey faced some challenges over the years. In 1198, the leader of the abbey, Abbot William Wibert, was removed from his position. This happened because he was not following the strict rules of the abbey and was mismanaging its money.
From the 1300s to the 1400s, the abbey had a long disagreement with the nearby area of Wappenham. This argument was about collecting tithes, which were like taxes paid to the church, usually a tenth of someone's income or farm produce.
Biddlesden Abbey was never very rich for most of its history. In 1536, it was almost closed down by the king. However, the monks asked to keep it open and even paid money to do so. But their efforts only lasted a little longer. The monastery was finally given up in September 1538. After that, it became the property of Thomas Lord Wriothesley.
In the 1730s, the old ruins of the abbey were taken down. A new house, called Biddlesden Park House, was built on the same spot. This house is now a special listed building, meaning it's protected because of its history. Only a few stones from the original abbey can still be found today, but they are not in their original places.
People Buried at Biddlesden
Some important people were buried at Biddlesden Abbey. These include members of the Zouche family:
- William la Zouche, 1st Baron Zouche
- William la Zouche, 2nd Baron Zouche
- William la Zouche, 3rd Baron Zouche (who lived from about 1355 to 1396)
- William la Zouche, 6th Baron Zouche, 7th Baron St Maur
