Garendon Abbey

Garendon was founded by Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester, in 1133, and was probably a daughter house of Waverley Abbey in Surrey. Garendon was one of a number of religious establishments founded or patronised by Robert. He endowed the abbey with 690 acres of land in Garendon, a Burgage tenement in Leicester and land at Dishley, Shepshed and Ringolthorpe. Ranulf le Meschin, 3rd Earl of Chester (d. 1129), gave the abbey the right to graze all their livestock in Barrow upon Soar, the deer park excepted. He also confirmed the gifts made to Garendon in Holywell Hall (“Haliwellhawe”) by Robert de Jorz, William de Jorz, and Thomas le Despenser. He is further believed to have been the…

The abbey is thought to have been quite large: with the complex occupying an area of around 70m x 80m. Following the demolition of Garendon Hall, the site of the former abbey was able to be excavated. Excavations undertaken in 1966-68 located the foundations of the former abbey's chapter house and dormitory. The excavation also located the remains of the chapels attached to the transepts of the abbey church. It was also discovered that the abbey's drain was used as part of the sewage system of Garendon Hall.