Croxden Abbey
Encyclopedia
Croxden Abbey was a Cistercian abbey
at Croxden
, Staffordshire
, England.
In 1179, Bertram de Verdun
, the lord of the manor
of Croxden, endowed a site for a new abbey, and 12 monks arrived from the Savigniac Cistercian mother house of Aunay-sur-Odon
in Normandy
to build the new abbey over the next 50 years. It was known as the "Abbey of the Vale of St. Mary at Croxden". The monks made a living from breeding sheep. The Abbey was consecrated in 1253.
The abbey lasted for 350 years until the Dissolution of the Monasteries
. In September 1538, the abbot and the twelve remaining monks surrendered the abbey.
The site is privately owned and the ruins are in the care of English Heritage
. Unfortunately, a road has been built right through the ruins of the church.
Charles Lynam (1829–1921) was an architect and amateur archaeologist from Leek. He worked out the ground plan of the abbey and published his findings in 1911 as The Abbey of St. Mary, Croxden, Staffordshire.
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
at Croxden
Croxden
Croxden is a village in the county of Staffordshire, England, south of Alton and north of Uttoxeter.The village is the site of Croxden Abbey, founded in 1176 by the Cistercians, but now ruined. It is privately owned and in the care of English Heritage....
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, England.
In 1179, Bertram de Verdun
Bertram de Verdun
Bertram de Verdun was the name of several members of the Norman family of Verdun, native of Avranchin.For the historian Mark Hagger, the Verdun family lived lavishly in Normandy where they were minor land holders, and after the Norman conquest of England they were granted land in England...
, the lord of the manor
Lord of the Manor
The Lordship of a Manor is recognised today in England and Wales as a form of property and one of three elements of a manor that may exist separately or be combined and may be held in moieties...
of Croxden, endowed a site for a new abbey, and 12 monks arrived from the Savigniac Cistercian mother house of Aunay-sur-Odon
Aunay-sur-Odon
Aunay-sur-Odon is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:-Twin towns:* Holsworthy since 1976....
in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
to build the new abbey over the next 50 years. It was known as the "Abbey of the Vale of St. Mary at Croxden". The monks made a living from breeding sheep. The Abbey was consecrated in 1253.
The abbey lasted for 350 years until the Dissolution of the Monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
. In September 1538, the abbot and the twelve remaining monks surrendered the abbey.
The site is privately owned and the ruins are in the care of English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
. Unfortunately, a road has been built right through the ruins of the church.
Charles Lynam (1829–1921) was an architect and amateur archaeologist from Leek. He worked out the ground plan of the abbey and published his findings in 1911 as The Abbey of St. Mary, Croxden, Staffordshire.