Shap Abbey

Shap Abbey
Monastery information
Shap Abbey
Full name	Abbey church of St. Mary Magdalene
Other names	Shap Abbey
Order	Premonstratensian
Established	1190 near Kendal, 1199 on this site
Disestablished	1540
Diocese	Carlisle
Site
Location	Shap Rural, Cumbria, England
Visible remains	large tower and outline of conventual buildings
Public access	Yes, English Heritage

Shap Abbey was a monastic religious house of the Premonstratensian order on the western bank of the River Lowther in the civil parish of Shap Rural, around 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the village of Shap, in the Eden District of Cumbria, England. The site is in the care of English Heritage and managed on its behalf by the Lake District National Park.

History

Although the present Shap Abbey was built in 1199, the monastic community was originally founded on another site 20 miles south near Kendal in 1190, but it moved to the present site, then called 'Hepp', in 1199. The old name meant 'a heap' but it gradually assumed the present day name "Shap" over the next 100 years.

Shap Abbey escaped the initial phase of the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536, but it was closed in 1540 and subsequently sold to the Governor of Carlisle. Most of the abbey buildings have been demolished, however the tower remains are still impressive, and the outline of the building plan is clearly visible.

Masonry was robbed away at the end of the 17th century to build Shap Market Hall, and much of the ornate carved stonework was also removed and used in the building of Lowther Castle. Many of the monastic buildings were incorporated into a farmhouse and used as barns, and little has happened to these over the last four centuries as they have formed part of a working farm.

Access

The site is open to the public at all reasonable times and entry is free. Facilities are limited to a car park and a short path leading over the fields to the small 16th-century Keld Chapel, now in the care of the National Trust.

Coordinates: 54°31′49″N 2°42′00″W / 54.530233°N 2.699901°W / 54.530233; -2.699901

Shap Abbey August 2004, from the air.
Remains of Shap Abbey showing the impressive tower

External links

Media related to Shap Abbey at Wikimedia Commons

English Heritage sites in Cumbria

Dating from Neolithic/ Bronze Age	Castlerigg Stone Circle King Arthur's Round Table Mayburgh Henge

Dating from Roman Britain	Ambleside Roman Fort Hadrian's Wall (including Banks East Turret, Birdoswald Roman Fort, Brougham Roman fort, Hare Hill, Harrows Scar Milecastle and Wall, King's Stables (Milecastle 48), Leahill Turret and Piper Sike Turret, Pike Hill Signal Tower, Willowford Wall Turrets and Bridge) Hardknott Roman Fort Ravenglass Roman Bath House

Dating from the Middle Ages	Bow Bridge Brough Castle Brougham Castle Carlisle Castle Clifton Hall Furness Abbey Lanercost Priory Penrith Castle Piel Castle Shap Abbey Wetheral Priory Gatehouse

Dating from the 17th Century onwards	Countess Pillar Stott Park Bobbin Mill

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, January 07, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.