Buildwas Abbey

Buildwas Abbey
A photograph showing a well preserved section of arcade made up of early Gothic arches.
Buildwas Abbey, Shropshire.
Buildwas Abbey is located in Shropshire
Buildwas Abbey
Location within Shropshire
Monastery information
Full nameMonastery of St Mary and St Chad of Buildwas
Other namesCommunis Monasterii Sancte Marie de Buldewas
OrderCistercian, originally Savigniac
Established1135
Disestablished1536
Mother houseSavigny Abbey
Dedicated toSt Mary and St Chad
DioceseCoventry and Lichfield
Controlled churches
People
Founder(s)Roger de Clinton, Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield
Important associated figures
Site
LocationBuildwas, near Ironbridge, Telford, Shropshire, TF8 7BW
Coordinates52°38′07″N 2°31′42″W / 52.6354°N 2.5284°W / 52.6354; -2.5284
Grid referencegrid reference SJ642044
Visible remainsSubstantial remains of church and claustral buildings.
Official nameBuildwas Abbey
Designated8 February 1915
Reference no.1015813
Public accessFree entry, 10:00–17:00 every day.

Buildwas Abbey was a Cistercian (originally Savigniac) monastery located on the banks of the River Severn, at Buildwas in Shropshire, England - today about 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Ironbridge. Founded by the local bishop in 1135, it was sparsely endowed at the outset but enjoyed several periods of growth and increasing wealth: notably under Abbot Ranulf in the second half of the 12th century and again from the mid-13th century, when large numbers of acquisitions were made from the local landed gentry. Abbots were regularly used as agents by the Plantagenet monarchs in their attempts to subdue Ireland and Wales and the abbey acquired a daughter house in each country.

It was a centre of learning, with a substantial library, and was noted for its discipline until the economic and demographic crises of the 14th century brought about decline and difficulties, exacerbated by conflict and political instability in the Welsh Marches. The abbey was suppressed in 1536 as part of the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII. Substantial remains of the abbey church and monks' quarters remain and are in the care of English Heritage.[1]

  1. ^ Angold, M. J.; Baugh, G. C.; Chibnall, Marjorie M.; Cox, D. C.; Price, D. T. W.; Tomlinson, Margaret; Trinder, B. S. (1973). Gaydon, A. T.; Pugh, R. B. (eds.). House of Cistercian monks: Abbey of Buildwas. Vol. 2. London: Victoria County History. Retrieved 27 April 2019. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)