Grey Abbey, Down facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Grey Abbey

An Mhainistir Liath
Monastery information
Order	Cistercian
Established	1193
People
Founder(s)	Affreca de Courcy
Architecture
Status	Inactive
Site
Public access	Yes

Grey Abbey (which means An Mhainistir Liath in Irish) is a really old, ruined Cistercian priory in Greyabbey, County Down, Northern Ireland. It's like a cool historical site! Today, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency looks after it. It's a special monument that the government protects. You can find it in the area called Rosemount, right on the edge of Greyabbey village.

A Glimpse into Grey Abbey's Past

Grey Abbey was built a very long time ago, in the year 1193. It was founded by a powerful woman named Affreca de Courcy. She was the wife of John de Courcy, a famous knight. Imagine what life was like when this abbey was first built!

Plan of the abbey, drawn in 1874.

Exploring the Abbey Today

Even though Grey Abbey is a ruin now, you can still see many parts of the old buildings. You can walk around and imagine the monks who lived and prayed here centuries ago. It's a great place to learn about history and see ancient architecture.

Images for kids

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  View of Grey Abbey, County Down, Northern Ireland

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  Detail of Memorial Plaque, Grey Abbey, County Down, Northern Ireland

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  Nave, Grey Abbey, County Down, Northern Ireland