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| An artists impression of Hailes Abbey before its dissolution in 1539 |
A place which I find very special and interesting, are the ruins of Hailes Abbey between Winchcombe and Stanway in the north Cotswolds.
It was in 1242 when Richard Earl of Cornwall nearly drowned whilst crossing a stormy sea in a foundering ship on his voyage back from fighting in the Crusades. He vowed that he would build an Abbey if he got back to England safely.
He kept his vow and was given land by his brother King Henry III and by the middle of the 13th century the Abbey buildings were well underway. The church and living quarters alongside, were for the Cistercian order of monks often known as white monks, because they wore habits of undyed wool. Cistercian monks liked remote places away from all human contact, they were self sufficient, and farming was their means of survival. At Hailes they were isolated and were able to devote their life to God.
He kept his vow and was given land by his brother King Henry III and by the middle of the 13th century the Abbey buildings were well underway. The church and living quarters alongside, were for the Cistercian order of monks often known as white monks, because they wore habits of undyed wool. Cistercian monks liked remote places away from all human contact, they were self sufficient, and farming was their means of survival. At Hailes they were isolated and were able to devote their life to God.
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However after the Abbey was built, Edmund, Earl Richard's son, bought a phial containing some of Christ's Blood. It had a guarantee that it was genuine from the Patriarch of Jerusalem, who later became Pope.
A beautiful chapel and sacred shrine were built behind the high altar in the abbey church for the phial, and it was ceremoniously presented to the monks. The hugely important relic, known as the 'Holy Blood of Hailes' was to make the Abbey one of the great pilgrimage centres of England and many miracles were said to have taken place there.
In the 16th century Henry VIII became king of England
A beautiful chapel and sacred shrine were built behind the high altar in the abbey church for the phial, and it was ceremoniously presented to the monks. The hugely important relic, known as the 'Holy Blood of Hailes' was to make the Abbey one of the great pilgrimage centres of England and many miracles were said to have taken place there.
In the 16th century Henry VIII became king of England
The Abbey along with many other religious houses around the country was destroyed in the 1530's on the orders of King Henry VIII. The wealth and treasures at Hailes were appropriated for the Crown. The phial of blood was tested and was proclaimed to be a fake.
King Henry VIII, having been excommunicated by the Pope in Rome over his divorce had made himself Supreme Head of the Church in England. He now had powerful enemies abroad and needed money quickly to build up his navy to fight wars on the continent. He therefore sold a lot of monastic land which was bought by leading nobles and ambitious gentry who were keen to extend their family position and status. There is a Kip's drawing of a magnificent house and formal gardens entitled 'Hailes Abbey the seat of the Lord Tracy'. All this has disappeared now but the beautifully maintained site around the foundations, remaining walls and arches are now in the care of English Heritage.There's an interesting museum, and a free audio tour as well as information boards around the site. You can take a picnic and spend the day there, or drive further up the road to Hailes fruit farm, where you can pick fresh fruit, shop or enjoy something to eat and drink in their cafe.
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After an enjoyable time at Hailes Abbey we travelled to Stanway to look around the village and this is what we discovered...
Recycled stone - said to be from Hailes Abbey!
For group guided coach tours around the North Cotswolds see my website: http://www.tourandexplore.com/
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