Hailes Abbey facts for kids
The ruins of Hailes Abbey (2011)
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| Monastery information | |
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| Order | Cistercian |
| Established | 1246 |
| Disestablished | Christmas Eve 1539 |
| Mother house | Beaulieu Abbey |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Richard, Earl of Cornwall |
| Abbot |
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| Site | |
| Location | Parish of Stanway, Gloucestershire, England |
| Coordinates | 51°58′6″N 1°55′41″W / 51.96833°N 1.92806°W |
| Public access | Yes: the ruins are owned by the National Trust but managed by English Heritage. |
| Official name | Hailes Abbey and ringwork |
| Designated | 1 October 1936 |
| Reference no. | 1018070 |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name | Hailes Abbey |
| Designated | 4 July 1960 |
| Reference no. | 1154262 |
Hailes Abbey was once a Cistercian abbey, which is a type of monastery. It is located in the small village of Hailes, in Gloucestershire, England. The abbey was started in 1246 as a "daughter house" of Beaulieu Abbey, meaning it was founded by monks from Beaulieu.
Sadly, the abbey was closed down by Henry VIII in 1539. Not much of the original building is left today. It is now a Grade I listed building and a scheduled monument, which means it's a very important historical site.
The land where Hailes Abbey once stood is owned by the National Trust. However, English Heritage looks after the ruins and manages the site. There's also a museum there where you can see many old items found from the abbey.
Contents
The Story of Hailes Abbey
Hailes Abbey was founded in 1246 by Richard of Cornwall. He was the younger brother of King Henry III. Richard decided to build the abbey to thank God after he survived a shipwreck.
King Henry gave Richard the land at Hailes. Richard then brought twenty Cistercian monks and ten lay brothers from Beaulieu Abbey to live there. The monks were led by Prior Jordan.
The large abbey was built quite quickly and was finished in 1277. A special ceremony was held to open it, attended by the King, the Queen, and 15 bishops! Hailes Abbey was one of the last Cistercian monasteries to be built in England.
The Holy Blood Relic
Hailes Abbey became a very popular place for pilgrimage (religious journeys) after 1270. This was because Richard's son, Edmund, gave the monks a small bottle said to contain the Holy Blood. He had bought this special item, called a relic, in Germany.
A relic connected to Jesus's story was a huge attraction. Many people came to pray and visit the abbey. The money from these visitors helped the monks rebuild the abbey to be even grander.
However, not everything was peaceful. In 1408, one of the abbots (the leader of the abbey) was put to death for rebelling after a battle.
The Abbey's End
In the 1500s, King Henry VIII decided to close down many religious places in England. This time is known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
King Henry's officials investigated the famous Holy Blood relic at Hailes. They declared it was nothing but duck's blood that was secretly replaced often! The Abbot, Stephen Sagar, even admitted the Holy Blood was a fake, hoping it would save the abbey.
Despite this, Hailes Abbey was one of the last monasteries to give in and close down. The Abbot and his monks finally surrendered their abbey to the King's officials on Christmas Eve in 1539.
After the abbey closed, the western part, where the Abbot lived, was turned into a house. The Tracy family lived there in the 1600s. But these buildings were later pulled down. Today, only a few low arches and outlines in the grass show where the grand abbey once stood.
In 1937, the site was given to the National Trust. Then, in 1948, the Ministry of Works (which later became English Heritage) took over looking after the abbey ruins.
People Buried at Hailes Abbey
Some important people were buried at Hailes Abbey. These included the founder, Richard of Cornwall, his second wife, Sanchia of Provence, and his sons, Edmund, 2nd Earl of Cornwall and Henry of Almain.
Hailes Church
| Hailes Church | |
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Hailes Church
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| Built | 1175 |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: Church (dedication unknown) | |
| Designated | 4 July 1960 |
| Reference no. | 1154315 |
Right next to the abbey ruins is Hailes Church. This church is actually older than the abbey itself, having been opened in 1175. It later served as the capella ante portas, which is Latin for 'chapel outside the gates', for the abbey.
Inside the church, you can see beautiful wall paintings from the 1300s. On the north wall, there are pictures of Saint Catherine and Saint Christopher. On the south wall, you can find Saint Margaret and scenes of hunting.
Like the abbey, Hailes Church is also a Grade I listed building. It is still part of a group of local churches, and services are held there sometimes.
See also
- Ashridge Priory, Hertfordshire which also received a relic of the Holy Blood
- Hailes Castle, Gloucestershire
- Hayles Abbey Halt railway station
