2017

SU4508 : Netley Abbey (20)

taken 7 years ago, near to Netley, Hampshire, England

Netley Abbey (20)
Netley Abbey (20)
The EH Visitor information states:
"The most complete surviving Cistercian monastery in southern England, with almost all the walls of its 13th-century church still standing, along with many monastic buildings. After the Dissolution, the buildings were converted into the mansion house of Sir William Paulet. Even in ruins, the abbey continued to be influential, inspiring Romantic writers and poets."
The correct name for this Cistercian abbey is "The Abbey of St Mary Edwardstow"
It was the creation of the influential Peter de Roches, Bishop of Winchester. Netley was founded in 1239 (reign of Henry III) and was one of the last Cistercian houses to be established in England - just over a hundred years after the first Cistercian house was founded at Waverley in Surrey (1128).
The abbey fell to the Dissolution in 1536, being shut down by Henry VIII at which time there were just seven monks present; its annual income was assessed as £100 12s 8d, making it one of the poorest Cistercian houses in England.
After the Dissolution, the site and buildings were granted to Sir William Paulet, later Marquis of Winchester, another influential politician. He transformed the former monastery into a grand house along the Tudor lines but incorporating much of the abbey's original stonework - though he also demolished or remodelled much of the old religious buildings.
Paulet's successor was the Earl of Hertford, later elevated to be Duke of Somerset, and during his tenure Queen Elizabeth visited what had become one of the largest houses in Hampshire.
However within a hundred years it was to become effectively abandoned following its sale in 1676. Some of the stone from the old abbey was quarried for various new buildings, such as St Mary's in Southampton (1710 and 1722-23).
Later in the C18th and into the C19th it became highly popular with the "Romantic" movement in the Arts, and many paintings of its ruins were created by artists such as John Constable; it also inspired the writings of poets and authors.
It is now in the care of English Heritage and can be visited free of charge - see LinkExternal link
It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, and a good write-up of its history and structure can be read here LinkExternal link


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Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Barry Shimmon and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Historic sites and artefacts Religious sites other tags: Netley Abbey Abbey (Ruins) Click a tag, to view other nearby images.
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SU4508, 163 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Barry Shimmon   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Sunday, 9 July, 2017   (more nearby)
Submitted
Wednesday, 23 August, 2017
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SU 4531 0898 [10m precision]
WGS84: 50:52.7127N 1:21.4407W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SU 4527 0900
View Direction
East-southeast (about 112 degrees)
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Image Type (about): cross grid 
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