All Hail Hailes Abbey...

The abbey of Hailes based near Winchcombe in Gloucestershire was originally founded in 1246 by Henry III of England's brother, Richard, Earl of Cornwall as a way of him giving thanks for his survival when at sea. It soon became home to a religious order, and housed Cistercian monks, otherwise known as 'white monks'. Cistercian monks lives were based on manual labour and self-sufficiency, with the monks at Hailes Abbey supporting themselves with the charitable donations made by Pilgrims who visited the site, but also through the produce from its vast estates. The abbey had an orchard, which supplied their fruit, and fishponds which supplied the fish for their tables.

Cistercian Monks, English Heritage

In 1270, the monks were provided with a small flask (or vial) made of a fine silver and crystal, which was said to contain the blood of Christ by Edmund, son of Richard, Earl of Cornwall. The relic proved to be highly popular with Pilgrims (attracting thousands to the site from across the country) and was known as the 'Blood of Hailes'. Due to it's popularity the monks built an entire shrine in which to house the relic, and the abbey grew quite profitable because of it.

The abbey and it's inhabitants lived in relative peace and tranquility up until the reign of Henry VIII of England, where it suffered at the hands of the 'Suppression of the Monasteries', otherwise known as the 'Dissolution of the Monasteries' in 1538/1539.

Thomas Cromwell by Hans Holbein the Younger (1532-1533)

In 1535 the Valor Ecclesiasticus was drawn up, which provided a valuation of the wealth of the Church throughout both England and Wales, in which Hailes Abbey would have been listed as one of the more profitable religious houses. The King's commissioners (lead by Thomas Cromwell, Lord Privy Seal, Vicar General, and Vicegerent in Spirituals to Henry VIII) were also instructed to investigate into all of these monasteries searching for evidence of corruption or vice, as it was believed the churches were fooling people with false relics or statues etc. The 'Suppression of the Monasteries' soon followed in 1536, and continued up until 1540. During this time over 800 monasteries (which had been home to over 10,000 monks, nuns, friars and canons) were suppressed, with former monasteries being sold off to landowners, turned into churches, or left to ruin.

Henry VIII in the Valor Ecclesiasticus (1535)

In 1538, the vial (which couldn't have escaped the King's commissioners) said to contain Christ's blood was taken from Hailes Abbey to London, where judgement was passed that it was not Christ's blood at all, but clarified honey that had been coloured using Saffron. The abbey which had put up some resistance then had no choice but to surrender to the King's commissioners, doing so on Christmas Eve in 1539.

The abbey buildings were taken down and dispersed, with the exception of the buildings in the West range. These buildings became the Country home of the Tracey family from Toddington nearby. However, by the mid 18th Century this was all a ruin.

Hailes Abbey Ruins, Author

Hailes Abbey Ruins, Author

The site now belongs to English Heritage and is well worth a visit if you have a spare couple of hours. The museum houses some amazing Tudor finds from the abbey such as Tudor floor tiles, Tudor Spoons, and Tudor Stucco.

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cistercians
• http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/henryviii/passion/wealth.htm
• http://www.bl.uk/learning/timeline/item106122.html
• English Heritage, Hailes Abbey, Notice Boards.