Beeleigh and Beeleigh Abbey
Beeleigh Abbey was initially established as a daughter house (copy) of Newham Abbey in Lincolnshire, at the behest of Robert Mantell, the lord of the manor of Little Maldon. The abbey received a royal charter from Richard I in 1189. The heart of Saint Roger Niger of Beeleigh, a Bishop of London in the thirteenth century, was interred at Beeleigh, transforming the abbey into a site of pilgrimage. Notably, in 1289, pilgrims included King Edward I and Queen Eleanor. Following the dissolution of the monasteries, a significant number of the abbey's structures were demolished. In 1540, Henry VIII bestowed the abbey and its lands upon Sir John Gate, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Thirty years after the land was transferred, an extension in the form of a farmhouse was added to the abbey. Throughout the 18th century, the building served as a public house. By the late 19th century, the structures had fallen into a state of disrepair; however, restoration efforts commenced in 1912 under the direction of Captain F. W. Grantham. In 1943, the Abbey was acquired by William Foyle, the proprietor of Foyle’s bookshop. Currently, the abbey functions as a private residence and is not typically accessible to the public, although small private groups may arrange visits on specific dates specific dates, through "Invitation to View".
The Abbey gardens are now accessible to the public on designated days throughout the summer months. In 2008, the Premonstratensians returned to Essex, establishing a residence at St. Philip's Priory in Chelmsford, located approximately 8 miles from Beeleigh. In 2010, the Prior of St. Philip's Priory, along with three canons, was received at Beeleigh Abbey, marking the first visit by White Canons since Father Norbert Backmund of Windberg Abbey (Kloster Windberg) in Bavaria visited in 1955. He was the first White Canon to visit Beeleigh since the monastic dissolution in 1536.
In April 2011, the Abbot General, the global leader of the Premonstratensian Order (White Canons) based in Rome, Father Thomas Handgraetinger, was welcomed at Beeleigh, accompanied by the Prior of Chelmsford, Father Hugh Allan, and three canons. Local legends suggest that the abbey is linked to All Saints Church in Maldon by an underground tunnel, purportedly constructed so that the monks could retreat to the church in the event that the abbey was destroyed during the dissolution of the monasteries. One tale indicates that this tunnel was reportedly still in existence several years ago, and its entrance was discovered by archaeologists. Sadly, this is just a myth.
Christopher Foyle successfully finished an award-winning restoration of the Abbey and its gardens prior to his passing on the 10th August 2022.
On the 24th June 2025 it was reported by the BBC that the Abbey had been placed on the market for sale, the asking price was £5,450,000.
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