Shrewsbury Abbey
Encyclopedia
The Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, commonly known as Shrewsbury Abbey, was a Benedictine
monastery
founded in 1083 by the Norman
Earl of Shrewsbury
, Roger de Montgomery, in Shrewsbury
, the county town of Shropshire
, England.
, surrounded by a triangular area which is today referred to as Abbey Foregate. A large amount of the monastery was destroyed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries
, but a number of buildings, including the church were left intact. Thomas Telford
built his A5 road through the remaining part of the Abbey and now only part of the original abbey
church is still in existence, which is still used today as a place of worship. The old refectory pulpit is still visible across the road from the church and a single wall of an abbey building, now an integral part of another building, remains.
The history of Shrewsbury Abbey played a prominent role in the "Cadfael
" mysteries by Ellis Peters.
The road that passes the abbey is referred to as "Abbey Foregate", the area around which forms a suburb of the town of the same name. The suburb's development is largely residential, with some commercial and limited industrial development, much of the industry having left during a period of decline in the 20th century.
The present organ was built by William Hill and Sons of London in 1911. It has been rebuilt by Hill, Norman and Beard
.
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
founded in 1083 by the Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
Earl of Shrewsbury
Earl of Shrewsbury
Earl of Shrewsbury is a hereditary title of nobility created twice in the peerage of England.-First creation, 1074:The first creation occurred in 1074 for Roger de Montgomerie, one of William the Conqueror's principal counselors...
, Roger de Montgomery, in Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
, the county town of Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, England.
Background
The Abbey is located to the east of the town centre, near to the English BridgeEnglish Bridge
The English Bridge is a masonry arch viaduct, crossing the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. The present bridge is a 1926 rebuilding and widening of John Gwynn's design, completed in 1774. A bridge is known to have stood at this spot since at least Norman times. Historically, it was known as...
, surrounded by a triangular area which is today referred to as Abbey Foregate. A large amount of the monastery was destroyed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
, but a number of buildings, including the church were left intact. Thomas Telford
Thomas Telford
Thomas Telford FRS, FRSE was a Scottish civil engineer, architect and stonemason, and a noted road, bridge and canal builder.-Early career:...
built his A5 road through the remaining part of the Abbey and now only part of the original abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
church is still in existence, which is still used today as a place of worship. The old refectory pulpit is still visible across the road from the church and a single wall of an abbey building, now an integral part of another building, remains.
The history of Shrewsbury Abbey played a prominent role in the "Cadfael
Cadfael
Brother Cadfael is the fictional main character in a series of historical murder mysteries written between 1977 and 1994 by the linguist-scholar Edith Pargeter under the name "Ellis Peters". The character of Cadfael himself is a Welsh Benedictine monk living at Shrewsbury Abbey, in western England,...
" mysteries by Ellis Peters.
The road that passes the abbey is referred to as "Abbey Foregate", the area around which forms a suburb of the town of the same name. The suburb's development is largely residential, with some commercial and limited industrial development, much of the industry having left during a period of decline in the 20th century.
| Abbots of Shrewsbury |
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Architectural features
The nave retains the original Norman, 11th century, massive round pillars on two levels. The west end of the building consists of a tower containing 8 bells and a clock at high level and is 14th century. The Victorian east end of the church was redesigned by John Pearson to contain a chancel and sanctuary. The north vestry is the home of the Abbey organ.The present organ was built by William Hill and Sons of London in 1911. It has been rebuilt by Hill, Norman and Beard
Norman and Beard
Norman and Beard were a major pipe organ manufacturer originally based in Norfolk. They were founded in Diss in 1870 by E.W. Norman, but soon moved to Norwich to a building which still exists, and formerly had its own rail link. The company merged with Hills of London in 1916, moving its production...
.