Kirkstead Abbey ~ A Guide to the History and Site
Kirkstead Abbey was a Cistercian Abbey dedicated to St Mary and was founded in 1139 - I was there yesterday and it’s really quite spectacular.
Here’s a guide to the history and archaeology of the site along with plenty of original photographs
Kirkstead Abbey has been on my ‘to visit list’ for some time now and a day bathed in glorious sunlight proved to be the perfect opportunity.
The Manor of Kirkstead, as well as Tattershall, was gifted to Eudo by William the Conqueror but it was his son Hugo Brito, or Hugo the Breton, who actually founded the Abbey itself in 1139 which was ‘populated’ by monks from Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire (a wise move on their part to come to Lincolnshire)
The site is very extensive indeed, the earthworks so extensive it looks as though all the moles in England have been at work for centuries. The greatest delight though is the fact that there are still standing remains !
That’s a rare treat.
Kirkstead Abbey near Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire
As you can see they’re pretty spectacular, I’ve also tried to capture something of the feel of the earthworks in the above picture as well - though earthworks seldom convey just how impressive they are in photographs - it gives you an idea though.
The standing remains form part of what was the south east side of the cruciform church’s central tower and quite why this precarious piece of the building has survived and so much disappeared feels like something of a mystery.
Most of the stone was robbed away over the centuries for other buildings and in 1830 two men spent six months breaking and burning carved stone for lime !
Some survived and can be seen in houses, farms and walls around the area, the font base is at St Margaret’s church in Langton.
A Plan of Kirkstead Abbey from 1716
The plan above shows just how the abbey grew with gifts and bequests of land over the years. The Abbey is also strongly connected with the Lincolnshire Uprising and the last Abbot Richard Harrison ( or Haryson) was executed for his supposed part and became a recognized Catholic Martyr.
Also suffering a similar fate were those from Barlings Abbey and Bardney Abbey.
At the time of the Dissolution the annual net income of the abbey was valued at £286 and it was recognized as one of the larger Abbeys in Lincolnshire
After this the property was granted to the Duke of Suffolk, Charles Brandon, in 1539. The famed and oft mentioned Clinton family also pops up in this saga as Edward Clinton, who was to become Bishop of Lincoln, was granted the lands in circumstances of dubious legality by the crown. Eventually this was recognized and the lands returned to relatives of Edward Lord Clinton.
Kirkstead, anciently known as Cirsted, also has a church on the site and this will be covered in a separate article
Part of the Moat which surrounded Kirkstead Abbey
You’ll see above part of the surviving moat which ringed the site, as seen on the plan drawing, not only does it give you a greater feel for the site but also shows you what a glorious day it was. At the risk of sounding repetitive I felt, once again, very privileged to be there - for many reasons not just those of historic antiquity.
It may sound corny but sitting there alone amidst the earthworks in the sun it feels different somehow, it’s not like sitting by a field or wood. There’s a peace and tranquillity not to mention the sense of history and wonder at those people and times that preceded me. I know it sounds flowery and may well be self-imagined but non-the-less if did feel that way to me
It truly is a magnificent spot and one well worth visiting - if you share and interest you’ll not regret going.
For more photographs please visit the gallery we’ve created specifically for Kirkstead Abbey.
Click on the pictures to enlarge - and check if they extend to another page
It will open in a new window or tab (may take a second or so) ~ simply close it down to return to this site
See More Photographs
As always we very much welcome comments from anybody who has an opinion, comment, perhaps you’ve been there or indeed know something of interest about the site.
Please do feel free to share it
Monastically Yours
Rod
See Also St Leonard’s Chapel Kirkstead
Little Brother said,
March 3, 2010 @ 9:26 pm
Rod,
Quite incredible, really interesting post and well captured.
LB
Femme Fatale said,
March 4, 2010 @ 7:09 am
Rod,
What a lovely place,
the picture of the moat is fabulous
FF
xx
Rod said,
March 4, 2010 @ 7:59 am
LB & FF
thank you very much, it’s a fabulous place, incredibly interesting in terms of after trip research as well
Cheers
Rod
Peter Mullins said,
March 4, 2010 @ 11:18 am
When Lincoln (one of the largest contributors to the ransom for Richard I) was one of the few major cities in the country and Boston (more customs revenue than London) was one of the few major ports, the Witham was not a remote backwater but a principle trading route. As new IT businesses clustered in the M4 corridor in the 1980s and 1990s, so new large wealthy religious houses crowded the Witham valley from the twelfth century onwards.
Rod said,
March 4, 2010 @ 7:46 pm
Peter,
it is because of such things that I believe there is such richness in Lincolnshire history, certainly more than most would imagine - much undervalued and under-researched in my humble opinion.
Your last point illustrates a theory I use when looking around potential sites; what would I do here today !
Whilst times change principals do not and businesses, homes and strongholds etc will only ever be somewhere for a specific reason. You can imagine and understand a lot looking at earthworks and the like just by using commonsense I think
All the best
Rod
Peter Mullins said,
March 5, 2010 @ 8:12 am
Yes, yes. One of two essential questions for an historian. Really looking and noticing and then asking “What would I do here today”. Absolutely right. The real tension / balancing act / bind is asking the second question at the same time: “What factors or assumptions would make them do things which wouldn’t immediately occur to me?”
[My e-mail with Aylesby Mill photo doesn’t appear to have got through. I’ve had odd problems in the past when messages get lost in cyber space soemwhere. What to do next?]
Rod said,
March 5, 2010 @ 8:25 am
Peter,
another thing I try to do is wipe my mind of modern preconceptions. When it comes to occupation, building and settlement etc I believe the modern mind is easily swayed by what we see and feel today.
We think of property values and area desirability which can taint thought I suspect.
This is why I also feel this area was so important, ignoring modern ideas and property prices, it is right in the iddle of the country, on the coast, sheltered port - ideal for trading both nationally and internationally etc etc
I’ve tried to email you Peter re the picture
All the best
Rod
Amiguru said,
June 7, 2010 @ 3:30 pm
Rod,
Went and collected my new specs today so expect twice as much work from me from hereon, hence five posts today, so far!
Lincolnshire Architectural and Archaeological Society Report 1887 says:
“KIRKSTEAD Chapel.
We very much regret to hear that this most beautiful specimen of Gothic architecture is still in great danger of collapsing. It would be a discredit to this Diocese should so precious an edifice be allowed to fall, of which there is reasonable apprehension. From its proportions and the beauty of its details it constitutes a perfect model of a small church, such as the most critical might wish to possess, and is therefore valuable far beyond its own locality.
From the leaning of portions of this edifice and threatening cracks in the fabric such a catastrophe might occur at any time, although it is impossible to say how long stones and mortar may cohere. We earnestly trust that some persons after visiting this Chapel may be induced to come forward and promote its preservation, and the Society will do its utmost to help in so laudable an undertaking.”
Doggedly yours,
Neville
Rod said,
June 7, 2010 @ 6:26 pm
Neville,
that’s fine by me
When I visited my thoughts were just as they are looking at this now.
How and why did that one piece survive and all the rest disappear - doesn’t seem to make sense.
Much like some of the other ruins I’ve seen you’re left with the thought - how spectacular must it have been !
Best
Rod
Rod said,
October 14, 2011 @ 7:07 pm
From 1251:
For the abbot of Kirkstead. The king has pardoned to the abbot of Kirkstead the 5 m. at which he was amerced before the justices last itinerant at the Tower of London for a purpresture made in the same vill. The king has also pardoned to the same abbot the other 5 m. at which he was similarly amerced before Master Simon of Walton in the assize of novel disseisin that Master Nicholas del Wyz arraigned against him. Order to the barons of the Exchequer to cause the same abbot to be quit from the aforesaid 10 m.