East Bergholt Abbey facts for kids
East Bergholt Abbey was once a special home for religious communities in Suffolk, England. It was built on the land of an old estate called Old Hall. People lived and prayed there for many years.
Contents
History
The Old Hall Estate
Before the abbey, there was a large estate called Old Hall. It was the main manor in East Bergholt. In 1701, a man named Joseph Chaplain bought the land. He built a new manor house there.
Later, the property belonged to John Reade. In 1801, he asked the famous artist John Constable to paint the house. Constable loved the area. He kept visiting and painting the beautiful views around Old Hall.
The Nuns of East Bergholt Abbey
In 1856, a group of Benedictine nuns bought the Old Hall estate. These nuns had a long history. Their community started in Brussels in 1598. It was specifically for English women.
When the French Revolution happened, the nuns had to leave. They moved back to England in 1794. They first settled in Winchester and opened a school.
When they moved to East Bergholt, an architect named George Goldie helped them. He changed the manor house into a monastery. He added a chapel and other important rooms.
The nuns worked hard. They farmed the land and opened a school. In 1876, they closed the school. They became a "contemplative" community. This meant they focused on prayer and quiet life.
They were very self-sufficient. They baked their own bread and made their own wine. They also kept bees and made butter and cheese. They even showed their farm products at local shows! To earn extra money, they made special clothes for church services. When times were tough, they helped people in need.
During World War II, the nuns had to leave the coast. The military took over their Abbey building. After the war, the building was in bad shape. So, the nuns decided to sell it. They moved to a new home in Haslemere.
The Haslemere community closed in 1975. The remaining nuns moved to other abbeys. The last nun from this community passed away in 1995.
The Franciscan Friars
After the nuns left, another religious group moved in. In 1946, Franciscan friars started a friary there. Friars are like monks, but they often live and work more in the community.
The friars at East Bergholt helped people in nearby towns. Around 1973, most of the friars moved to Canterbury. A few stayed and set up a smaller friary in Ipswich. The Old Hall property was sold again in 1973.
What is it Now?
Today, the Old Hall property is privately owned. It is used as communal housing. People live there together as a community.
