Egglestone Abbey facts for kids
Egglestone Abbey is a beautiful old ruin located on the southern side of the River Tees in England. It's about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south-east of Barnard Castle in County Durham. This historic site was once a busy abbey, but today it stands as a peaceful reminder of the past. It is looked after by English Heritage, and you can visit it for free!
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The Story of Egglestone Abbey
Who Built the Abbey?
Egglestone Abbey was built a long, long time ago, sometime between 1168 and 1198. It was founded by a group of religious people called the Premonstratensians. These were special canons (a type of priest) who wore white robes, which is why they were also known as the "White Canons."
They chose this spot for their abbey because it was quiet and away from busy towns. It was also close to the River Tees and had plenty of local stone to use for building. The Premonstratensians lived a simple life, similar to Cistercian monks. They spent their time preaching and helping people in the area, sometimes even giving out food and drinks.
Life at the Abbey
The church at Egglestone Abbey was made bigger and partly rebuilt about 100 years after it was first built. The parts you see today are mostly from this later building.
The abbey was often quite poor and sometimes struggled to keep the required number of canons, which was usually twelve (like the Twelve Apostles).
Tough Times for the Abbey
Life at Egglestone Abbey wasn't always easy. In 1346, the abbey faced problems from Scottish invaders. Later, a noisy English army stayed there on their way to a big fight called the Battle of Neville's Cross near Durham. Imagine how disruptive that must have been for the quiet canons!
The Abbey's End
The abbey's story changed forever in 1540. This was when King Henry VIII decided to close down many monasteries in England, a time known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Egglestone Abbey was one of them.
After the abbey closed, its lands were given to a man named Robert Strelly in 1548. He turned some of the abbey buildings into a large private house. However, this house was eventually left empty in the mid-1800s. Over time, much of the abbey was taken apart, and some of its stones were even used to pave the stable yard at a nearby place called Rokeby Park.
Visiting Egglestone Abbey Today
Today, Egglestone Abbey is a beautiful ruin that you can explore. It's a great place to imagine what life was like hundreds of years ago. The site is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument, which means it's a very important historical place. It's open from 10 am to 6 pm, and entry is free.
Other White Canon Abbeys
Egglestone Abbey is just one example of a Premonstratensian abbey. Other famous ones include:
