The founding community was brought to Lilleshall Abbey from Dorchester Abbey in Oxfordshire and, as at Dorchester, for a time the canons followed the specific customs and daily religious observance of the important Augustinian monastery at Arrouaise in north-eastern France.
An Augustinian foundation
The founding community was brought to Lilleshall Abbey from Dorchester Abbey in Oxfordshire and, as at Dorchester, for a time the canons followed the specific customs and daily religious observance of the important Augustinian monastery at Arrouaise in north-eastern France.
By the late 13th century, Lilleshall had become a religious house of great reputation and prestige. In all, the monastic life was maintained for almost 400 years, until the abbey was suppressed on the orders of King Henry VIII in 1538.
The surviving abbey buildings almost all date from the late 12th and early 13th centuries. Many other structures have been lost, their foundations partially recovered by archaeological excavations in the late 19th century. The central buildings stood in a much larger monastic precinct, enclosed by a stone wall and gates.
Sources
Ferris, I 2000. 'Haughmond Abbey, Lilleshall Abbey and Moreton Corbet Castle', London: English Heritage
Rigold, S E 1989. 'Lilleshall Abbey', London: English Heritage
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The text and pictures on this page are derived from the 'Heritage Unlocked' series of guidebooks published in 2004. We intend to review, update and enhance the content in the near future as part of the Portico project, whose objective is to provide information on the history, significance, research background and sources for all English Heritage properties.
