The ruins of Egglestone Abbey are located a couple of miles from Barnard Castle, which I visited just before visiting the abbey. The abbey dates from the 12th century from the mid to later 1100s. The founders of the abbey were known as Premonstratensians, who wore white outfits and became known as 'white canons'. Like other monastaries in England, they worked the land and were in charge of trade and business in the area. However, this was one of the smaller abbeys, and it struggled to make ends meet.
Like many abbeys and monastaries, they evolved over time, so the ruins at Egglestone Abbey are of the latest building.
This abbey was not a wealthy one, and it struggled with maintaining the minimum twelve canons. The location was also not a good one as it was invaded by the Scottish and English army.
Like all the monastaries, they were dissolved by Henry VIII in 1540, and this one became a private home but was then abandoned in the mid-1800s. Some of the stone from the buildings was used to pave a nearby park, but the abbey is a listed building today and open to the public for free.
One of the interesting finds here is a drainage system built under some of the foundations, and this was a sewage system that is unique. Parts of it can be seen at the ruins at the back, and it is a dry channel today.
Only a part of the abbey can be climed to reveal part of a small room on top. There is also a room underneath that can be seen with vaulted ceiling and fireplace and what appears to be a larder (a door to a tiny room with the remains of what appears to be shelving).
It's really not that large of an abbey, and you can see where some of the walls used to be.
If you are planning to visit Egglestone Abbey, do so before or after a visit to Barnard Castle.
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