Thornton Abbey Visitors Guide ~ A Gem in the Lincolnshire Crown
Thornton Abbey and Gatehouse is a fabulous gem in the Lincolnshire crown and sadly undervalued due to lack of promotion and publicity.
My birthday saw my brother and I taking at trip to the historic site
The View from ‘Inside’
I’ve been a couple of times in the past but now the whole place is ‘open’ rather than just being able to walk around the grounds you can go inside the recently restored and hugely impressive gatehouse. The restoration and work cost over £600,000 and for once I feel that , the presumed public, expenditure was absolutely worthwhile.
The remains of the Chapter house !
The Abbey was founded in 1193 by William le Gros the Earl of Yorkshire and left both myself and my brother in awe of what was once there. Although most of it is now gone there is enough to fill one with incredulity and wonder as to the scale of the task at the time. I say at the time but in today’s world and with all our technology and labour saving machinery what have we created that will enthral people in 100s of years time ?
The Chapter House from another aspect
An Ancient decrepit ruin and behind him some old walls
The ruins of the church
A discussion we had whilst sat there was based around the thought of whether or not a modern generation of children would find this remotely of interest.
I’m on record for pouring scorn on the useless wastrels that generally are the youth of today but today I was more optimistic. Bring your child here, explain what went one, feed their imagination, engender an interest beyond moronic TV programmes and I believe they’ll respond - and with gusto.
This was the kind of day that would be etched on a young boy’s mind for life - he’d remember this long after he’s forgotten his high score on Sonic the Grand Theft Mercenary Killer on nintenbox !
If you have children - go on - give it a go - but don’t just walk around - take them back to those times with information and knowledge - you never know - they might just be interested !!!
What Thornton Abbey once looked like
This is a rubbish photograph but I wanted to show you the artists impression of how the whole area once looked. I knew there would be nothing of note on the internet because this fabulous place is very poorly served in such ways. Whilst I would admit it does not constitute a whole day out as it were it is a great place to visit and not just for tourists but locals as well who claim there is nothing around here.
If this were ‘Down South’ it would be in tourist guides, on postcards and in books !
The cost of my admission was £4 and it was the best £4 my brother ever spent !
Your host bathed in holy light
Who sat on this ledge before me? What happened in this room ? What machinations, dreams, nightmares and aspects of everyday life have occurred in this room in which I now stand ?
I’m not sure whether it’s advancing years that increase one’s interest and susceptibility to history but it now enthrals me.
The Gatehouse and Entrance
The parting shot as we left is above and what an image to retain for what was a truly memorable day for my brother and myself.
I was full of historic thoughts and my imagination was racing but I was struck by the comparison of what went before and where we are today.
We stood there with very elaborate and clever digital cameras, mobile phones, mini laptops with mobile broadband internet access, my brother drove us there in a fabulous supercharged race tuned AMG Mercedes, I returned home to see the world’s most advanced sport, Formula One, on a 42 inch plasma TV !
Basically all of the amazing trappings of modern life - all of then quite incredible !
They all seemed second rate and of absolutely no interest what-so-ever when compared to the achievements of those who designed and built Thornton Abbey and the Gatehouse.
What a fabulous day 
All the best
Rod
Little Brother said,
September 30, 2008 @ 8:10 am
Rod,
You say ‘gem’ I say ‘jewel’!! A great post and pictures and thanks again.
LB
Rod said,
September 30, 2008 @ 8:17 am
LB
You say ‘gem’ I say ‘jewel’
Great minds - just read your account and looked at the gallery - great stuff
Rod
the dinosaur said,
September 30, 2008 @ 8:57 am
Rod, an excellent report on a truly hidden treasure, I’ve lived in Lincolnshire for 28 years and I’ve heard of Thornton Abbey but have no idea where it is or that so much of it still stands! It’s interesting you made a comparison with such a place and our world of dominating technology, I was at a simular abbey ruins Walsingham in Norfolk about three weeks ago with a couple of friends and we were very reluctant to leave it’s peace and sense of history, there’s almost a magic (some would say spirituality) about these sites. Well done.
Rod said,
September 30, 2008 @ 9:12 am
Dino
we were very reluctant to leave it’s peace and sense of history, there’s almost a magic some would say spirituality
Interesting you should say that, I have another post waiting to be written and I felt exactly the same.
I was struck by the contrast in times with the technology around us, useful that it is it will simply be poisoning the earth in some landfill - still unable to degrade - in a few hundred years.
That is our legacy
Cheers
Rod
visitor from afar said,
September 30, 2008 @ 12:17 pm
I added a post about Thornton Abbey to my blog only seven hours bofore you
I visited the place over a month ago with my brothter and my little niece. We spent there whole afternoon and all were delighted with the magnificent Gatehouse and the history of the place. I agree there is some magic that makes you imagine people living there ages ago.
I’m sorry for any mistakes, English is not my mother tongue.
Rod said,
September 30, 2008 @ 7:04 pm
visitor from afar,
thanks for taking the time to comment and welcome to the site.
Great to hear you found your way to Thornton Abbey and enjoyed yourselves.
Fear not for your English, it’s excellent, better than mine and English is the only language I know
Thanks again for the comment and pleased you enjoyed your trip
All the best
Rod
Femme Fatale said,
October 1, 2008 @ 1:08 pm
Rod,
It looks lovely,
I have never heard of the place and I also live in Lincolnshire.
Glad to hear you had a pleasant Birthday
FF
xx
Rod said,
October 1, 2008 @ 1:19 pm
FF
thanks for that, it is indeed a nice place and despite the advancing years I had a great birthday as well
Regards
Rod
CHAUNTEL said,
February 21, 2009 @ 3:55 pm
How lovely to see such a vivid account of one of Lincolnshires “jewels”
I was just perusing the site for any information about Thornton Abbey to show my husband, who, unfortunately wasn’t with me when I visited the Abbey early last year. He couldn’t believe the the gate house would be so interesting, but after reading your account of it, is now up for a visit.
Thank you Rod
C. C.
Rod said,
February 21, 2009 @ 4:17 pm
Hi Chauntel
thanks for the comment and welcome to the site.
It really is worth a visit, I was very pleasantly surprised and intend to return myself.
It’s fascinating, especially if you allow your imagination to wander and consider who and what went before we did.
Hope you both enjoy the trip, feel free to share the trip here with us, and thanks again for taking the time to comment.
All the best
Rod
Harry said,
April 3, 2009 @ 5:47 am
I live in Australia now but know the place well from when I was a child and many days were spent there. I lived about 20 minutes away by bicycle.
The gatehouse is very beautiful and also very haunted, particularly the gallery on the first floor.
Rod said,
April 3, 2009 @ 7:44 am
Hi Harry,
thanks for the comment and welcome to the site.
I’ve read about the ghosts and the haunted aspect of the place, didn’t spot anything or get any supernatural feelings myself - further investigation is required methinks - another trip is called for
Cheers
Rod
pixieflower said,
January 18, 2010 @ 9:05 pm
Hello there,
Came across this site through a session of browsing. I live in Keelby that is situated next to Nuns Cotham and have visited Thornton Abbey numerous times. They are both beautiful places even if you cant really see any remains of Nuns Cotham. I have said before it would be nice for English Heritage to let a few archeaologists in there to unearth a few parts but pfft they wont have it. Also if you ever visit Thornton Abbey again find the arch window in the abbey at the back, climb up to the window and look left. You will find a spiral staircase which leads down into a little corridoor/room where tales say a man of the clergy who resided there fell in love with one of his pupils and they had an affair. This girls father who happened to be the Sheriff of the area found out and accused the clergy man of witchcraft and had him blocked up in a room and left to die, this is apparently where he was blocked up but i don’t know if its true. Builders who where restoring parts found the blocked up room ive heard, quite few years ago obviously.
Thought you might like to know all that.
Peace xx
Rod said,
January 19, 2010 @ 7:37 am
Pixie,
thanks for a lovely comment I love the story and welcome to the site, I couldn’t agree more with you about EH.
I’ve seen sites deliberately buried so the ’stone gets preserved’ - but preserved for what ?
If nobody is going to do anything with it or be allowed to see it then . . .
I do understand preservation but don’t see the harm in seeing a pillar or wall or two.
Best Wishes
Rod
Nicky Pickering said,
April 2, 2010 @ 7:21 pm
Hi Rod
I came across your website by chance while Googling about various Lincolnshire sites of interests.
I agree with you about Thorton Abbey being a gem and not attracting many visitors. I went last year for the first time in many years and was very impressed.
Thank you for your comments on other places such as Thorganby and Caistor. Very informative.
Keep it up!
Nicky
Rod said,
April 2, 2010 @ 7:42 pm
Nicky,
thanks for taking the time to comment and welcome ot the site - hope you’ll return.
Pleased you enjoyed your visit there and hopefully it will encourage more to go there - it’s a great spot and something we should be very proud of.
Those taking care of the Abbey are doing a great job.
There’s plenty more on the site Nicky and rest assured more to come
All the best
Rod
Nicky Pickering said,
April 2, 2010 @ 7:53 pm
Hi Rod
I am keen on history so I have been checking out your comments on other places!!
I will certainly be returning!!!
Nicky
Amiguru said,
May 8, 2010 @ 10:39 pm
Rod,
Imagine the scene ….. 1440 Bishops Alnwicke has come to visit Thornton Abbey; ….. all of the bretheren are reporting quite openly and honestly the problems of the abbey ….. Brother John Sywarde, the instructor of the novices,reports that:
“….. whereas, when they all go to the dorter with one consent, some of them go to sleep quickly, but some cannot sleep at once, a place should be appointed…….. wherein they that go not quickly to sleep may be able to spend time either in study or prayer,
so that, while lying awake in bed, they may not be disturbed by the suggestions of evil spirits.”
I wonder what he is alluding to.
How real is that?
Neville
Rod said,
May 9, 2010 @ 9:05 am
Neville,
now that is a real snapshot of ‘real life’ - what a piece of information.
You can imagine the whole thing with bits of information like this, it puts you there.
Quite fabulous
Best
Rod
Pauline said,
August 16, 2010 @ 11:17 am
My husband and I recently bought a book of walks for Lincolnshire. On Sunday 14th August we decided to do the walk that included Thornton Abbey. We live in Lincolnshire and I have heard of the Abbey but it is not easy to find! That part of Lincolnshire seems to be a little lost corner of England…presumably because of the hideous chemical works at Immingham. We were very surprised. The walk was lovely and took in the little villages of Goxhill and East Halton. You are right (everyone gone before me) there is a magic about the place. Even when we were stomping across field paths we realised that all the land must once have belonged to the Abbey and it is not hard to imagine the 12th Century. The walk ends with a fantastic view of the Abbey - alas we were too late to go in but we intend to return very soon now we know how to get there! I agree, it should be better publicised.
Pauline
Amiguru said,
August 16, 2010 @ 12:26 pm
Pauline,
Pleased you had a lovely time and will be returning. Check for access times as the gatehouse alone certainly has ‘atmosphere’.
A few personal observations.
“presumably because of the hideous chemical works at Immingham” I quite agree having worked among it at one time but if we want chemicals then they have to be manufactured somewhere. The flare stacks of Killingholme, almost eerie at night, must be leaving a sizeable carbon footprint but most of us want the products of such places; not just petrol but all the other fractioned products therefrom.
“I agree, it should be better publicised.” Publicity is a double edged sword and I feel that the revenues generated by more visitors have a payoff of more wear and tear on the remains. Difficult thing to balance, witness other ‘monuments’ that have had to be of restricted access for this reason. I think it is nice to ‘discover’ it the way you did, sort of ‘half by accident’.
Sorry, to be a bit of a reflective ‘wet blanket’ but it needs to be part of the equation. Hope to hear of your future exploits and that you return not only to Thornton Abbey but to Rod’s excellent website!
Regards,
Neville
Karen said,
July 11, 2011 @ 9:06 pm
Visited Thornton Abbey yesterday (10/7/2011) and there are currently a group of archaeologists working on the site. There are 3 excavations, one on the site of the old mansion house (built within the confines of the site after the Dissolution), on the promenade walk (a raised walkway running from the mansion house site, designed to give a panoramic view over the gardens) and most interestingly, on the site of the Abbey’s tithe barn. This area shows the quality and thickness of the construction of the walls.
A good time to visit, as the excavations will be filled back in in about a week’s time.
Great site Rod - keep up the good work!
With all best wishes,
Karen
Rod said,
July 12, 2011 @ 7:12 am
Karen,
thanks for the very interesting update, very much appreciated and a warm welcome to the site.
I really do need to get back and re-photograph everything anyway.
Regards,
Rod
Karen said,
July 12, 2011 @ 1:39 pm
Thanks Rod! Just a small update, it seems the last day of the dig is set to be Thursday of this week (14/07/2011).
orangebear said,
July 18, 2011 @ 7:19 pm
hi, like your writing, good stuff and you capture the place in the words you say very well, have you heard much of
the haunting’s that goes on there?, as this interests me alot,
kind regards, orangebear
Rod said,
July 19, 2011 @ 7:32 am
OrangeBear,
thank you very much for the positive feedback, really appreciated and a warm welcome to the site - hope you’ll return there’s plenty more like this
Best wishes,
Rod
Debbie said,
September 7, 2011 @ 2:18 am
I happened to stumble upon this website and have enjoyed reading others impressions. I visited the Abbey in 1968 with my parents - my dad, Cyril West, was raised on the grounds by his grandparents who were caretakers and lived in a cottage inside the property (his parents lived on a farm in Ulceby) - my dad lived there from 1906 to around 1928 when he boarded the Adriatic from Liverpool bound for Canada where he went on a “harvester’s scheme”.
He later returned to Canada with his wife (in 1947) and settled here for a “better life”. I remember him telling us the story about the man who was bricked into a chamber of the Abbey - and something about he was given a slice of bread to live off (I’m guessing until he suffocated). He would often hunt rabbits around the grounds and I understand he was a very good shot! Somewhere my mom has a picture of the cottage taken sometime around 1920.
[edit]
c1925 Debbie’s Grandfather ~ Caretaker at Thornton Abbey
Rod said,
September 7, 2011 @ 7:26 am
Debbie,
thanks for the comment and welcome to the site - pleased you stumbled upon us.
What a fantastic place for your father to be raised - must be a dream for a young boy - I would have loved it !
Best wishes
Rod
Jon S said,
September 8, 2011 @ 1:03 am
“A discussion…based around the thought of whether or not a modern generation of children would find this remotely of interest.” Well, I took my 7 year-old daughter to visit Thornton Abbey on a gloriously sunny day about a fortnight ago and she thought it was a fantastic place. Exploring the gatehouse was a high point for her, especially when she got stuck into the ‘hands-on’ children’s activities that are available. She was also quite chuffed to find the sailing ships carved into the entrance gateway wall. (The place wasn’t short of garde-robes; what on earth were the monks eating?) My boys were disappointed that they didn’t get to go with us, so I can see a return visit in order before too long courtesy of my recently-obtained EH membership. An atmospheric and evocative site, well worth a visit.
Jon
Rod said,
September 8, 2011 @ 8:23 am
Jon,
that’s fantastic and thanks for sharing it.
It chimes in with my theory that it’s too easy to dismiss the young people of today as not being interested when in fact I think it’s usually the parents who aren’t interested and can’t be bothered.
Take the time to take them to places like this and I’m sure most would have a fantastic time - just as your daughter did.
I need to get back myself, not only for pleasure to for new pictures I think.
Regards
Rod
JamesC said,
December 8, 2011 @ 12:32 pm
Hi
With regard to the dig mentioned previously. It’s part of an ongoing project by University of Sheffield and they will be back next year (most of July). Apparantly they are looking for volunteers:
http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/archaeology/field-schools-index/thornton/
Hope this is of interest to someone!
James