Launde Abbey facts for kids
Launde Abbey is a special place in Leicestershire, England. It's about 14 miles east of the city of Leicester. Today, it's a retreat and conference center. People from the Church of England in Leicester and Peterborough use it for quiet reflection and meetings.
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History of Launde Abbey
Launde Abbey is an old country house. It was built during the Elizabethan period, which was a long time ago. The house stands where an even older building once was. This older building was an Augustinian priory called Launde Priory. A priory is a type of monastery where monks lived and prayed.
Founding the Priory
The original priory was started a very long time ago, even before the year 1125. Some records say it began in 1119. It was founded by a person named Richard Basset and his wife, Matilda.
The Dissolution of Monasteries
Later, in the 1500s, King Henry VIII decided to close down many monasteries in England. This event is known as the dissolution of the monasteries. Thomas Cromwell, who was a very important minister to King Henry VIII, was in charge of this. Cromwell liked Launde Abbey's location very much. He even wrote in his diary, "Myself for Launde." However, he never got to live there because he was executed in 1540.
New Owners and Changes
After Cromwell, his son, Gregory, lived at Launde Abbey for ten years. He lived there with his wife, Elizabeth. She was the sister of Jane Seymour, who was one of King Henry VIII's wives.
Over the years, Launde Abbey had many different owners. In 1603, William Smith bought it. Later, in 1763, Dorothy Jennings sold it to John Simpson. In 1828, Mary Finch Simpson married Edward Dawson. Through this marriage, the Dawson family came to own Launde. They hired an architect named Thomas Rickman to help restore the house. This work took place from 1829 to 1839. The Dawson family owned the estate for the rest of the 1800s.
Becoming a Retreat Centre
In 1957, Cecil Coleman and his wife bought Launde Abbey. They gave it to the Diocese of Leicester. They also paid for the work needed to turn it into a retreat house. This made it a place where people could go for quiet time and spiritual reflection.
The Chapel at Launde Abbey
The chapel at Launde Abbey is very old. Many people believe it is the only part left of the original priory church. It has some beautiful stained glass windows that are from the Middle Ages.
Important Monuments
A famous expert named Nikolaus Pevsner described the monument to Gregory Cromwell. He said it was "one of the purest monuments of the early Renaissance in England." This means it's a very good example of art from that time. There are also many memorials for the Simpson family. They bought Launde in 1763 and made the house bigger. They also planted many trees around the estate.
Chapel Use Today
The chapel is still used every day for worship by the people who live and work at Launde Abbey. Guests and visitors can also come to the chapel. It has a small pipe organ, which was built around 1880. It was later fixed up in 1989.
Launde Abbey Today
In 2009, Launde Abbey needed a lot of money for repairs. They launched an appeal to raise £1 million. This money was needed to make sure the house met modern safety standards. If they hadn't raised the money, the abbey might have had to close.
Both Launde Abbey and its chapel are very important buildings. They are listed as Grade II* listed buildings. This means they are special historical buildings that need to be protected.
