Bradwell Abbey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bradwell Abbey |
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 Chapel at Bradwell Abbey |
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 Bradwell Abbey
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| OS grid reference | SP826395 |
| Civil parish |
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| Unitary authority |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MILTON KEYNES |
| Postcode district | MK13 |
| Dialling code | 01908 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Buckinghamshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Bradwell Abbey, also known as Bradwell Priory, is a special historical site in Milton Keynes, England. It's a protected ancient monument and was once home to a Benedictine priory (a type of monastery). This priory was started way back in 1155. Today, it's also a district and a center for studying cities.
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Bradwell Priory: A Look Back in Time
The Priory began around 1154. It grew quite a bit during the Middle Ages, becoming an important place in the local area. However, it faced tough times during the Black Death (a terrible plague), and many people, including its leader, William of Loughton, died.
The Priory eventually closed in 1524. This was about 12 years before many other monasteries in England were closed down. The land and money from the monastery were given to Cardinal Wolsey. He used them to help fund his new college, Christ Church in Oxford.
Today, not much of the original priory remains. You can still see a small chapel and a farmhouse. This farmhouse has become a busy center for cultural activities and a place where people study cities. Even some of the old medieval paths that led to the abbey can still be seen today. They are now part of the "redways" in "redways" (special paths for cycling and walking).
The arrival of the West Coast Main Line railway line split the abbey's land. Bradwell village ended up on the east side of the railway, and the Abbey was on the west.
Bradwell Abbey Today: What's There?
Today, Bradwell Abbey is known as an Urban Studies Centre. This means it's a place where city planners and students from all over the world come to learn about Milton Keynes. They use its workspaces and library to study how cities are planned and developed.
The center also welcomes school groups. Kids can visit the medieval buildings, like the chapel, which is a very important historical building. They can also see the old fish ponds and the physic garden (a garden with plants used for medicine). It's a great way to see how things have changed over hundreds of years. Plus, local community groups use the space for meetings.
Togfest: A Music Festival
Since 1999, Bradwell Abbey has hosted an annual music festival called Togfest. Many different musicians have performed there over the years. Some past performers include Vikki Clayton in 1999 and Joe Driscoll in 2005. In 2009, the festival took place on June 26th and 27th, with bands like The Swanvesta Social Club playing.
Bradwell Abbey District: The Local Area
The modern Bradwell Abbey district is a fairly small area. It's located between the West Coast Main Line railway to the east and the A5 road to the west. To the north is Monksway (A422), and to the south is Dansteed Way.
Within this district, you'll find a small industrial estate (an area with businesses and factories). There's also the Loughton Valley flood plain, which is a "linear park" – a long, narrow park along the valley. The Swan's Way long-distance walking path and Sustrans cycling route 51 both follow this valley.
The area is formally part of the Bradwell grid-square. However, this square is divided into three parts by the railway line (which is on a raised bank) and the A5 road (which is in a lower cutting).
Civil Parish: A Name Change
Bradwell Abbey used to give its name to a civil parish (a local administrative area) located on the other side of the A5. This parish has since been renamed Abbey Hill.
Images for kids
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Chapel at Bradwell Abbey
