Chatteris Abbey facts for kids
Chatteris Abbey was a special home for a group of religious women called Benedictine nuns. It was located in Chatteris, a town in Cambridgeshire, England. The abbey was started in the year 1016 by a bishop named Ednoth, who was the Bishop of Dorchester.
Sadly, a big fire destroyed much of the monastery before the year 1310. Even after the fire, local families started using part of the abbey church as their own community church. This part was called the nave.
The Abbey's Story
Chatteris Abbey was never a very rich place. However, it managed to survive the first wave of closures during a time called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. This was when King Henry VIII decided to close down many religious houses in England.
Why Chatteris Abbey Closed
The abbey was finally given over to the King's representatives in 1538. At that time, there were eleven nuns living there. Even though many local families still used the abbey church for their services, this didn't save it from being torn down. The people who used the church were moved to a nearby church called St Peter and St Paul's.
What Happened to the Abbey Buildings
After the abbey was demolished, some parts of the cloister buildings (which were like covered walkways) were saved. They became part of a large house known as Park House. This house was later torn down in 1847. Today, almost nothing is left of the original abbey. Only a few small pieces of wall remain. The area where the abbey once stood is now covered by streets and houses. The names of streets like Park Street in Chatteris help us remember where it used to be.
