Bisham Abbey facts for kids
Bisham Abbey is a very old and important house in Bisham, Berkshire, England. It's called a Grade I listed building, which means it's super special and protected. The name "Bisham Abbey" comes from a monastery that used to be right next to it, but that building is gone now.
The original monastery was first known as Bisham Priory. Many important people, like the Earls of Salisbury, were buried there. Today, the area around the old manor house is a National Sports Centre. It's a place where athletes train and teams stay. It also hosts weddings, meetings, and other events.
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Exploring Bisham Abbey's Manor House
The main manor house was built a long time ago, around 1260. It was first a home for two Knights Templar, who were like medieval soldier-monks. Over the years, the house was changed and rebuilt many times.
Early History and Royal Guests
When the Knights Templar group was stopped in 1307, King Edward II took control of the house. He let different family members use it. In 1310, the house became a prison for Queen Elizabeth of Scotland. She was the wife of King Robert the Bruce. Her stepdaughter, Princess Marjorie, and sister-in-law, Lady Christine of Carrick, were also held there. They were captured during the Scottish Wars of Succession. They stayed for two years before moving to Windsor.
In 1335, William Montacute, 1st Earl of Salisbury bought the manor. He then started Bisham Priory next door in 1337. He was buried there when he died in 1344.
Royal Connections and a Ghost Story
Later, King Henry VIII gave the manor house to Anne of Cleves. This was part of their divorce agreement. After that, the Hoby family bought the house. They lived there until 1768.
Queen Elizabeth I often visited the Hoby family at Bisham Abbey. Anne of Denmark, who was Queen of England and Scotland, also stayed there in 1610. There's a famous legend that the house is haunted. People say the ghost of Dame Elizabeth Hoby walks the halls. The story says she accidentally beat her son to death for making a mistake in his schoolwork.
The Lost Monastery of Bisham
Bisham Priory was a monastery built for a group called the Augustinian Canons. Its first stone was laid in 1337. The founder, the 1st Earl of Salisbury, was buried there. Many other important people, including Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, were also buried at the priory.
The priory had some special items, called relics, from Saints Cosmas and Damian. However, it never became a huge place for pilgrimage. This was because many other churches also claimed to have relics from the same saints.
The End of the Monastery
Bisham Priory was closed down on July 5, 1537. This was part of King Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries. But then, just six months later, it reopened as a Benedictine abbey. This new abbey didn't last long either. It was finally closed on June 19, 1538.
Legend says that the abbot, John Cordery, cursed the building as he was forced to leave. He supposedly said that no two direct family members would ever inherit the property. Today, none of the original abbey church or its buildings remain.
Bisham Abbey: A National Sports Centre
The manor house is now managed by Serco Leisure Operating Ltd for Sport England. It is one of three National Sports Centres in the country. People can even get a gym membership there.
Top-Notch Sports Facilities
Bisham Abbey has amazing sports facilities, including:
- A modern, international hockey pitch.
- An indoor tennis centre with four courts.
- Eight outdoor tennis courts, some clay and some acrylic.
- A special gym for elite athletes to build strength.
- A sauna and steam room for relaxation.
- A large community gym with weights and fitness classes.
- Two squash courts.
- A redesigned nine-hole golf course.
- A sports therapy centre for expert sports science and medicine.
Home to Champions
The England association football men's team trained at Bisham Abbey for 40 years. They moved in 2001. England Rugby also trained there until 2005. Many famous football teams have used the facilities. Barcelona and Portsmouth trained there before Portsmouth won the FA Cup in 2008. Local teams like Marlow United F.C. also use the pitches.
Elite athletes and community groups often come for training camps. The England futsal team played international games there in 2006. Even Swindon Town F.C. used the centre in 2020 when their usual training ground was unavailable.
Bisham Abbey in Books and on TV
Bisham Abbey is mentioned in a funny book from 1889. It's called Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome.
In 2010, the Nationwide Building Society used Bisham Abbey in a TV ad. It was part of their campaign for the World Cup. The ad showed the England football team playing on one of the pitches. The local church was clearly visible in the background.
