Teignmouth Abbey facts for kids
Teignmouth Abbey (also known as St. Scholastica's Abbey) was once a special building for Benedictine nuns in Devon, England. It has a long and interesting history, starting many years ago in Europe before the nuns moved to England.
Contents
A Journey Through Time: The Abbey's History
Early Beginnings in Europe
The story of the Benedictine nuns at Teignmouth began far away in Europe. The very first English Benedictine convent was started in Brussels (now in Belgium) in 1598 by a woman named Lady Mary Percy.
Later, in 1624, some nuns from Brussels, including Dame Lucy Knatchbull and Magdalene Digby, started a new convent in Ghent, another city in Belgium. Then, in 1662, the Ghent convent helped to start another one in Dunkirk, France.
In 1784, a sister community in Pontoise, France, closed down. The nuns from Pontoise joined the community at Dunkirk. It is believed that a special cross, possibly from Fountains Abbey, was brought to the Dunkirk nuns by Lady Abbess Messenger from Pontoise.
Moving to England
Life for the nuns in Dunkirk became very difficult in 1793. Revolutionaries attacked their convent, and the nuns were held captive in Gravelines for eighteen months. Sadly, eleven of them passed away during this time.
Finally, in May 1795, the nuns were allowed to leave France and move to England. They settled in an old convent located in Hammersmith, London.
Building the Teignmouth Abbey
The building we know as Teignmouth Abbey was constructed in 1863. It was designed by an architect named George Goldie. The Benedictine nuns, who had been living in Hammersmith since fleeing France, moved into this new home in Teignmouth.
Later, in 1975, another Benedictine community from Haslemere (which was once East Bergholt Abbey) disbanded. Some of those nuns also came to live at Teignmouth Abbey.
The Abbey Today
Today, the Abbey building is recognized as a Grade II listed building, meaning it is historically important. It has been changed into private apartments where people now live. The smaller building next to it, called the Abbey Lodge, is also a private house.
