The ruins of Buildwas Abbey are situated in beautiful woodland just above the south bank of the River Severn.
The guidebook gives a brief summary of it’s origins:
In the summer of 1135, Roger de Clinton, Bishop of Chester, brought a small colony of monks to England from the Norman abbey of Savigny. He settled the brothers at Buildwas on the banks of the River Severn in Shropshire. Just 12 years later, Buildwas Abbey was to find itself part of the largest, most powerful and most widespread of all the monastic families in medieval Europe – the Cistercians.
Under the gifted Abbot Ranulf (1155-87), monastic life at Buildwas began to flourish. the abbey steadily improved its economic viability, builiding up a sizeable landed estate. Meanwhile, work had begun on the construction of a characteristic twelfth-century Cistercian abbey church, and on three principle ranges of monastic buildings grouped around a northern cloister.
The abbey met it’s demise during the first round of the suppression of the monasteries in 1536. At that time the abbey and most of it’s properties were were granted to Sir Edward Grey, Lord Powis and parts of the monastery were converted for use as a Tudor mansion.
‘Twas a terrible time, the dissolution of the monasteries.
Very turbulent!
Wow. This is one abbey I had not heard of before
The site is only quite small, but it is situated in such a beautiful place. You should visit if ever you get the chance.
Why would I come to think that – unlike what is written in history books – no pharao ever built a pyramid?
Is it possible that no pope, no bishop ever built a monastery?
Is it possible that no imam ever built a mosque?
Is it possible that those who built such impressive buildings got a lousy salary?
Often we do forget / ignore that those who built what centuries/milleniums later pleasures our eyes and feelings, were nothing but – and here comes the connecting dot to one of your recent series, CherryPie – (public) servants. Fairly paid, each of them being thankful to serve and … being called slaves.
Just some spontaneous thoughts.
Anyway: Lovely photos, CherryPie. A … pleasure for my eyes.
It was ever thus wasn’t it? Those at the top with the power and the money can exploit those who haven’t.
The struggle continues and repeats itself over the ages.
It’s a place I would love to see, Cherie. WOW. I especially like the flowers growing in the last image. And my eyes perked up when I saw Bishop of Chester, since we visited Chester and the Cathedral there last Thursday, a week ago, when we first arrived in England via Liverpool.
I hope you enjoyed Chester, it is one of my favourite towns. I haven’t been for a while.
I am sure you would get some wonderful photos if you visited the Abbey.
Buildwas is a lovely, tranquil spot (& a rare treat for English fans of Romanesque architecture, too!): your pix have really done it justice, C – thank you so much! xx
Thank you Minnie, I am glad you enjoyed the virtual journey
xx
You are on a winning streak with your pics CP.
Is this your therapy against the insanity of the modern world?
to Sean: yes I always think that way in such buildings. Thinking – I wonder how they did that? Or looking closely at the mason’s marks and guide lines on the columns in Durham Cathedral. The actual fabric of the building and the way it is built are endlessly fascinating.(Well, to me anyway)
I do like to get out and about with my camera, I find it very therapeutic to get away from it all
I do like architecture but I especially like gardens. I will have to be patient for a few more weeks for those. It is even better if I can capture the two together.
I find the buildings fascinating too I always have to get the guidebook so I don’t miss any interesting features when I am there. Then read them cover to cover when I get home.
… so there are already two of us, JD.
As for the insanity of the modern world: quite.
I am pretty sure, though, that sane people at any time in the past had good (speak: horrible lots of) reasons, too, to complain about the insanity of certain contemporary members of homo insapiens insapiens [sic!].
And now for something completely different:
I’d have taken a glimpse at your blog. You haven’t yet entered the realm of blogging, though, hm?
Beautiful photos, Cherie. On Flick’r, I could hear the whispers of the past.
Following Sean’s thinking: Years ago, I wrote a French poem on the way France’s cathedrals had been built. Stone by stone, with sweaty, bleeding hands, bared, hardened feet, curved backs…Thousands, and thousands of people…Whole families camping on the steps… Surviving on a loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and (if lucky) a chicken on Sunday. Slaves? Maybe… But they strongly, deeply believed in God. And audacious architects, courageous labourers were giving their time for the glory of God. For them, it was an honour to be part of the enterprise. Rightly or wrongly, in their mind, heart and soul, God deserved a beautiful temple.
Quite different from today’s civil servants who would have difficulty to worship the Government, and cannot be expected to work for less than they are worth to maintain a country mostly ungrateful for their efforts.
That poem sounds absolutely wonderful Claudia
Yes I suppose we do have to factor in their devotion to God too and of course they are very much still appreciated today for the legacy they have left behind.
You are quite right about the country being ungrateful for civil servants efforts, there are some awful comments flying around on the internet at the moment. I think that is partly because civil servants are deliberately misrepresented and misled by the press who also like to sensationalise everything. A lot of people quite sadly don’t know what civil servants do although everyone in some way uses their services.
It must have been so beautiful.
I think it would have been very impressive.
I love those arches.
They were quite something Liz