Abbeys & priories · South West England
Tewkesbury Abbey
Also known as: Abaty Tewkesbury, Mainistir Tewkesbury
In or near Tredington.
Tewkesbury Abbey — abbey in Gloucestershire, England, UK.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 45 min–1.5 h
- Nearest railway station
- Ashchurch for Tewkesbury · 3.7 km
- Free entry
- Family-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit Tewkesbury Abbey, the nearest railway station is Ashchurch for Tewkesbury, located 3.7 km away. Entry to the abbey is free, but wheelchair accessibility is limited. The postcode for sat-nav is GL20 5SN.
About
Tewkesbury Abbey is an abbey, priory, or monastic site in the United Kingdom. Records date its origin to AD 800. Built in the Romanesque architecture style. Heritage designation: Grade I listed building. Affiliated with Anglicanism. Wikidata describes it as: "abbey in Gloucestershire, England, UK". Coordinates: 51.9903°, -2.1604°.
Photo gallery
Heritage listing
The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Tewkesbury, commonly known as Tewkesbury Abbey, is located in the town of Tewkesbury in the ceremonial county of Gloucestershire, England. A former Benedictine monastery, it is now a parish church. Considered one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in Britain, it has "probably the largest and finest Romanesque" crossing tower in England. Tewkesbury had been a centre for worship since the 7th century. A priory was established there in the 10th century. The present building was started in the early 12th century. It was unsuccessfully used as a sanctuary in the Wars of the Roses. After the dissolution of the monasteries, Tewkesbury Abbey became the parish church for the town.
From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.
Summary from the official site
Tewkesbury Abbey is a historic site known for its stunning architecture and rich history. Visitors can explore the abbey's interior, attend services, and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
Read more on the official property page.
Protected designations
- Site of Special Scientific Interest: Severn Ham, Tewkesbury SSSI
- Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Cotswolds
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Tewkesbury, commonly known as Tewkesbury Abbey, is located in the town of Tewkesbury in the ceremonial county of Gloucestershire, England. A former Benedictine monastery, it is now a parish church. Considered one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in Britain, it has "probably the largest and finest Romanesque" crossing tower in England. Tewkesbury had been a centre for worship since the 7th century. A priory was established there in the 10th century. The present building was started in the early 12th century. It was unsuccessfully used as a sanctuary in the Wars of the Roses. After the dissolution of the monasteries, Tewkesbury Abbey became the parish church for the town. George Gilbert Scott led the restoration of the building in the late 19th century. The church and churchyard within the abbey precincts include tombs and memorials to many of the aristocracy of the area. Services have been high church but now include Parish Eucharist, choral Mass, and Evensong. These services are accompanied by one of the church's three organs and choirs. There is a ring of twelve bells, hung for change ringing.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
of themselves and of the Abbey Gules, a cross raguly or. Tewkesbury Abbey Founders Book, folio 8 verso, Bodleian Library, Oxford]] The Chronicle of Tewkesbury records that the first Christian worship was brought to the area by Theoc, a missionary from Northumbria, who built his cell in the mid-7th century near a gravel spit where the Severn and Avon rivers join. The cell was succeeded by a monastery in 715, but nothing remaining of it has been identified. In the 10th century the religious foundation at Tewkesbury became a priory subordinate to the Benedictine Cranborne Abbey in Dorset. In 1087, William the Conqueror gave the manor of Tewkesbury to his cousin, Robert Fitzhamon, who, with…
Description
The church itself is one of the finest Norman buildings in England. Its massive crossing tower is noted in Pevsner's Buildings of England to be "probably the largest and finest Romanesque example in England". Fourteen of England's cathedrals are of smaller dimensions, while only Westminster Abbey contains more medieval church monuments. <gallery> File:Southwest face, Tewkesbury Abbey - geograph.org.uk - 1037447.jpg|The tall Norman arch of the facade is unique in England File:Tewkesbury abbey 04.JPG|The nave of Tewkesbury Abbey File:Tewkesbury Abbey Lord Ismay Garter Banner 01.JPG|Garter banner of the late Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay in Tewkesbury Abbey </gallery>
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 51.9903, -2.1604
- County
- Gloucestershire
- District
- Tewkesbury
- Parish
- Tewkesbury
- Postcode
- GL20 5SN
- Parliamentary constituency
- Tewkesbury
- Established
- 1101
- Nearest railway station
- Ashchurch for Tewkesbury — 3.7 km
- Opening
- Daily 9.30am–4pm; certain areas may be closed for services.
- Official site
- www.tewkesburyabbey.org.uk
Sources
- wikidata: Q3405514 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Tewkesbury Abbey (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Tewkesbury Abbey 2011.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Tewkesbury Abbey?
- Tewkesbury Abbey is in Gloucestershire, the West Midlands, United Kingdom (postcode GL20 5SN), in the parish of Tewkesbury.
- What is Tewkesbury Abbey?
- Tewkesbury Abbey — abbey in Gloucestershire, England, UK.
- How do I get to Tewkesbury Abbey?
- The nearest railway station is Ashchurch for Tewkesbury, about 3.7 km away. Drivers can use postcode GL20 5SN.
- When was Tewkesbury Abbey built?
- Built or established in 1101.
- Is Tewkesbury Abbey a listed building?
- Tewkesbury Abbey is officially recognised as Grade I listed building listed.
- Is Tewkesbury Abbey a protected site?
- Yes — Tewkesbury Abbey is part of the Severn Ham, Tewkesbury SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Cotswolds National Landscape (AONB).
- Is Tewkesbury Abbey free to visit?
- Yes, Tewkesbury Abbey is free to enter.
- How do I get to Tewkesbury Abbey?
- The nearest railway station is Ashchurch for Tewkesbury, about 3.7 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode GL20 5SN.