Holmcultrum Abbey
Abbeytown, Cumbria
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Quick Guide |
Founded by
Cistercian monks from
Melrose in 1150 and dissolved in 1538.
In 1157 it came under English
rule. The monks were given land and money and began draining the marshes and
raising sheep on them as well as crops. With more than 6000 sheep under
their ownership, they were able to export wool to Europe as early as the 14th
century. They also mined the salt from the sea. The Abbey had the rights to
21 salt pans, used for heating and extracting salt from the brine. Their
medieval saltpans are still visible at Saltcotes and Crosscanonby. The monks
lived by the adage that "to work was to pray", and the abbey grew to become
the second most important Cistercian place in Cumbria. It gradually came
under attack from various quarters including Robert the Bruce in 1319
sacking the abbey causing it to loose 80% of its value. When another raid
took place in 1332 the abbey was left financially desperate, eventually
falling into the hands of Henry VIII.
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When the abbey was dissolved in 1538
the church of Holme Cultram Abbey was spared so that it could become the
parish church, because the previous one at Newton Arlosh was too far
from most of the parish. Unfortunately the church was very large and the
maintenance cost more than the parish could afford, so the size of the
church was drastically reduced.
Holme Cultram was Cumbria's leading Cistercian abbey and is today the
only Cistercian abbey in England whose nave still serves as a place of
worship.
Church
was in parochial use until destroyed in an arson attack 9 June 2006.
The fabric in the vestry was the
first to go, then it spread very quickly to the roof timbers, and in
about an hour the whole roof had collapsed into the aisle and pews. The
organ, which was quite large was totally destroyed as well as
irreplaceable records dating back to medieval times. However most of the
stained glass survived.
Click on image to
see larger version
Humphrey Bolton
(this picture taken in 2003) |
See this link
www.visitcumbria.com/wc/abbeytown-fire.htm
for pictures of the church
after the fire but also pictures of the restoration that started in February
2008 and a new roof being added, with an aerial picture in April 2008 showing
the new roof installed but with scaffolding still around.
Location: Holmcultrum Abbey, nr Abbey
Town, Cumbria |
Grid Reference:
NY177508 |
Ceremonial County:
Cumberland
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Map Link:
StreetMap
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Aerial photo:
Google Aerial Photo
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Getting there: From Carlisle come off the A596
onto the B5302 towards Abbey Town. At the junction of B5307 turn right
through the village and Abbey/Church is on the right handside |
Access: off the B5307 in Abbey Town village |
Website: |
Other Useful Websites: |
Email: |
Address: Holme Cultram Abbey PCC, Holme
Cultram Vicarage, Abbeytown, Wigton, Cumbria |
Postcode: CA7 4SP |
Telephone: |
Opening Times: Any reasonable time - however
may be restricted because of restoration work |
Charges: None |
Nearby Locations: |
Other Location Pages:
Abbey Section
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Notes:
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