Swineshead Abbey facts for kids
 Location in Lincolnshire
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Order | Savigniac 1134-1147 Cistercian 1147-1536 |
| Established | 1134 |
| Disestablished | 1536 |
| Dedicated to | St Mary |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Robert de Gresley |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Abbey ruined, remains used to build House |
| Heritage designation | Scheduled Monument 1018687 Grade II listed building 1165368 |
| Designated date | 9 October 1981 - Abbey ruins 19 November 1951 - House |
| Site | |
| Location | Swineshead, Lincolnshire |
| Coordinates | 52°56′55″N 0°08′34″W / 52.94869000°N 0.14276290°W |
| Visible remains | buried walls and earthwork features |
Swineshead Abbey was an important old building in Swineshead, Lincolnshire. It was a special kind of monastery where monks lived and prayed a long time ago. This place, also known as the Abbey of St Mary, has a long and interesting history.
Contents
Swineshead Abbey: A Journey Through Time
How It Started
Swineshead Abbey was founded in 1134 by a man named Robert de Gresley. He and his son, Albert, gave the Abbey a lot of land and other gifts to help it get started.
The first monks who lived here belonged to a group called the Savigniac order. They came from another abbey called Furness Abbey. However, in 1147, all the Savigniac monasteries, including Swineshead Abbey, joined a larger group called the Cistercian order.
What Monks Did
Monks in abbeys like Swineshead lived a life focused on prayer, work, and study. They often grew their own food and helped people in the local community. Sometimes, abbots (the leaders of an abbey) would get into trouble. In 1170, the Abbot of Swineshead was told off for owning too many villages, churches, and even serfs (people who worked on the land).
King John's Famous Visit
A very famous person once stayed at Swineshead Abbey: King John of England! This happened in 1216, just before he died. King John had lost his baggage in the nearby marshy lands, and he stopped at the Abbey for a short time.
You might have heard about this in William Shakespeare's play King John. In the play, the abbey's name is spelled "Swinsted Abbey" by mistake. This mix-up was common back then, even though Swinstead is about 25 miles away from Swineshead.
What Happened to the Abbey
Swineshead Abbey continued to operate for many years. However, in 1536, it was closed down. This happened because of a new law called the first Act of Suppression. The last leader of the Abbey was an abbot named John Haddingham.
What's Left Today
After the Abbey was closed, its stone buildings were used for other things. In 1607, a farmhouse called Abbey House was built using materials from the old abbey ruins. This Abbey House is still standing today and is considered a special historic building.
The abbey was built on a slightly raised area in the marshy land, about 1 kilometer northeast of Swineshead village. Today, you can still see some of the buried walls and earthwork features. These show where the church, cloister (a covered walkway), and dormitory (where monks slept) used to be. There are also signs of where the stables, barns, and other farm buildings were located.
Even though the site is now a private home, you can still see it from the main A52 road. If you are traveling south from Boston, you will reach the Baythorpe area of Swineshead. The Abbey House is hidden behind trees, about 200 meters past the Manor Farm Shop.
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