Beaulieu Abbey

The first Abbot of Beaulieu was Hugh, who stood high in the king's favour, often served in important diplomatic missions and was later to become Bishop of Carlisle. The king granted the new abbey a rich endowment, including numerous manors spread across southern England (particularly in Berkshire), land in the New Forest, corn, large amounts of money, building materials, 120 cows, 12 bulls, a golden chalice, and an annual tun of wine. John's son and successor, King Henry III was equally generous to Beaulieu, with the result that the abbey became very wealthy, though it was far from the richest English Cistercian house. Monks from Beaulieu founded four daughter houses, Netley Abbey in…

The abbey's buildings were of a scale and magnificence reflecting its status as an important royal foundation. The church was 102 m long and had a semi-circular apse with 11 radiating chapels. The building took more than four decades to complete and was finally dedicated in 1246, The abbey was surrounded by workshops, farm buildings, guesthouses, a mill, and extensive gardens and fishponds. Strongly fortified gatehouses controlled entry to the monastic enclosure, which was defended by a wall. A water gate allowed access to ships in the river.

Although a great deal was destroyed at the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries, there is still much to see. The layout of the 102-metre-long church can be seen on the lawns. The position of the altar is marked by a cross and flanking trees. The south wall of the nave, where the cloister leant against it, still stands. At each end is a fine processional door between the church and the cloister. The cloister arcades themselves have vanished, but the open space is still enclosed by walls and planted with fragrant herbs. To the east lay the sacristy, the chapter house, the slype or passage to the infirmary, and the monks' day room. Of these the main survival is the façade of the chapter…