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Hailes Abbey

Mar - Nov 2009 (annual)

Cost: Various

Hours: Various depending on season. Please check the website for details

Hailes Abbey is one of the most striking abbey ruins in southern England, located near a host of other historic sites. A must-see in any central Cotswolds itinerary, the abbey marked its 750th anniversary in 2002.

Founded by Richard, Earl of Cornwall (and son of King John) after he was miraculously saved from shipwreck, Hailes was developed by the Cistercians in the 13th century and soon became a magnet for pilgrims with the gift of a phial of the Holy Blood of Christ. After the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII, the buildings at Hailes suffered more than those of many monastic establishments, falling into dilapidation by the 18th century.

Hailes thus has fewer walls and structures intact than such famous ruins as Rivaulx and Fountains Abbey. This scarcely detracts from its interest, however. The quiet setting at the foot of pastoral hills evokes the inner peace of monastic life. The outlines of the abbey church and the cloister are clearly visible and a number of wall fragments remain standing. The site museum contains more fragments, allowing a close-up view of the magnificent carved bosses from the vaults. It also explains the difficult task of conserving the ruins and the changing approach of the caretakers to this over the decades.

Nearby Winchcombe, ancient Saxon capital of Mercia, makes an attractive base for visits not only to Hailes but also to the Roman villa at Chedworth, the medieval ruins and subsequent buildings at Sudeley Castle and the 18th-century house and water gardens at Stanway.

Hailes Abbey

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