Coverham Abbey facts for kids
Coverham Abbey
|
|
| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Order | Premonstratensian |
| Established | 1190 |
| Disestablished | 1536 |
| Mother house | St Mary and St. Martial at Newsham |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Helewisia de Glanville |
| Site | |
| Location | Coverham |
Coverham Abbey was a Premonstratensian monastery (a type of religious community) located in North Yorkshire, England. It was first started in a place called Swainby in 1190. A woman named Helewisia de Glanville, whose father was a very important judge for the king, founded it.
Around 1212, the monastery was moved and rebuilt at Coverham. Helewisia's son, Ranulf fitzRalph, was in charge of this move. He even had his mother's body moved to the new building.
During the early 1300s, there are signs that the abbey and its lands were attacked by the Scots. The abbey itself was almost completely destroyed. Later in that same century, records show that 15 canons (monks) lived there, along with their abbot (the head of the monastery).
Today, the ruins of Coverham Abbey are very important. They are protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and are also a Grade I listed building. This means they are considered a top historical site in England.
Contents
The First Home: Swainby Abbey
The original monastery, known as Swainby Abbey, was founded in 1187 or 1188. It was also a Premonstratensian abbey in North Yorkshire. Helewise, the daughter of Ranulph de Glanville, started it. Her father was a powerful sheriff and judge for King Henry II.
Helewise was married to Robert, who was the Lord of Middleham Castle. When she passed away in 1195, she was buried at Swainby Abbey. However, the monastery didn't stay there for long. It was moved to Coverham in 1202.
What Happened to the Abbey?
Closing Down and What's Left
Coverham Abbey was officially closed in 1536. This was part of a bigger event in England called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Thomas Wraye, whose son Christopher Wray later became a very important judge, was the last manager of the abbey's lands.
After it closed, the abbey was sold to a man named Humphrey Orme. It quickly fell into ruin.
Today, you can still see parts of the old abbey. The main remains include parts of the church building. There's also a guesthouse that was made into a house in 1674. This house was later replaced in the late 1700s by the building known as Coverham Abbey House. This newer house still includes parts of the old monastery.
You can also find parts of the original gatehouse. Many old stone carvings are preserved there, including tomb covers. Some of these covers have carvings of knights from the 1300s.
Visiting the Site
The abbey ruins are usually not open to the public. However, you can sometimes catch a glimpse of them. You can see parts of the ruins from the churchyard of Holy Trinity Church, Coverham. This church is an old medieval church nearby.
Important People Buried Here
Some notable people were buried at Coverham Abbey:
- Geoffrey le Scrope (1285–1340) and his wife Ivetta De Ros. Geoffrey was a very important lawyer and judge.
- Ralph Neville, 1st Baron Neville de Raby. He was a powerful English nobleman.
- Ranulph Neville, 1st Baron Neville. Another significant member of the Neville family.
