Beeleigh Abbey Maldon

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Maldon in 1818
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Your guide to the district of Maldon and its history

Beeleigh Abbey

Beeleigh Abbey in an engraving published 1818

The Abbey c1900 before the restoration

Same east view c1950. Note the right hand side has been rebuilt

The Chapter House early 1900s

The Dormitory early 1900s

The Refectory early 1900s

Beeleigh Abbey was founded in 1180 for Canons of the Premonstratensian Order who migrated from Pardon on the western border of the county, now part of Harlow New Town. It was established on land granted to the canons by Robert de Mantell, Lord of the Manor of Little Maldon and Sheriff of Essex. The church and cloister buildings developed on this site on the banks of the river Chelmer. An abbey farm was established and the canons also took ownership of a nearby existing watermill.

The Abbey was issued with a Royal Charter by King Richard I in 1189 (later confirmed by Edward III in 1364) and patronage of the Abbey passed to the powerful Bourchier family in 1365.

Beeleigh Abbey was closed in 1536 under the Act of Dissolution, having an income of just £157 per annum, with everything of any value being removed and sold. Demolition of the entire church and parts of the abbey took place and the Bourchier tomb was dismantled and taken to Little Easton parish church. In 1540, Henry VIII granted the remaining buildings and lands to Sir John Gates of High Easter and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for the price of £300. He, however, was beheaded on Tower Hill London on August 22 1553 for supporting the cause of Lady Jane Grey.

Gates had already disposed of the Abbey to William Marche in 1546 and he to Thomas Francke the younger in 1547. It is possible that it was one of the Francke family who built the present red brick Tudor wall which surrounds most of the premises.

The Abbey Church had been destroyed at the Dissolution, but the Chapter House and the Calefactory remain. They date mostly from the second quarter of the 13th century and their vaulted roofs are supported by slender columns of Purbeck marble. The carved stone fireplace of the 15th century in the Calefactory or Warming House has at its head a range of angelic figures playing early musical instruments. The Tudor timber framed wing was built after the Dissolution.

During the 18th and 19th centuries the Abbey was a farmhouse and was not restored until the early 20th century by the architect Basil Ionides for Captain F W Grantham who had leased the Abbey from the the Baker family of Hockley in 1916. Grantham embarked on a programme of restoration including the building of modern living accomodation. The gardens were laid out by Wykeham Chancellor in the 1920s.

In 1943, Beeleigh Abbey was purchased by Mr W A Foyle of Foyles Bookshops of Charing Cross Road. Mr Foyle retired in 1945 but continued with his antique book business turning the Abbey dormitory into a huge library which eventually contained over 4,000 books. The collection was sold for £12.6 million in July 2000 after the death of his daughter Christina who had taken over the Abbey on the death of Mr Foyle in 1963.

Beeleigh Abbey is still in private ownership and remains closed to the public although the gardens and grounds will be open on a few days on 2010. The present owner, Mr Christopher Foyle, grandson of Mr W A Foyle, is continuing with the restoration work on this wonderful old building.

For details of the Beeleigh Abbey garden open days click here

Maldon Archaeological & Historical Group is undertaking several investigations within the Abbey grounds. Visit their web site for details.

The Essex Society for Archaeology and History visited Beeleigh Abbey in 2003. See here for details and pictures.

For more information on the Abbey before the Dissolution of the Monasteries, click here

See also the British History Online Beeleigh Abbey page here

In 1930, when the Abbey was in the ownership of Mr & Mrs R. E. Thomas, a pagent was held in the grounds depicting the history of the Abbey. Read the following article printed in the Essex Review at the time:

PAGEANTRY AT BEELEIGH. The Essex Review

NOT for the first time has the ancient Abbey near Maldon been the scene of its former history relived in modern times. But even more elaborate than the little play of St. Roger His Ring (enacted in 1921) was the fine Pageant representing that history in a series of episodes, which took place on Saturday afternoon and evening, the 28th of June.

Directed and written by Mrs. Gregory Nicholson and Mr. A. A. Thomson, it sought to reproduce, in nine scenes, events in the history of the Abbey during the 750 years that have elapsed since its foundation. Episodes were undertaken by various centres in the county and had been well rehearsed to combine in a harmonious whole. The music, rendered upon medieval instruments under the direction of Canon and Mrs. Galpin, appropriately gave an important touch of realism. Arrangements for the audience were excellent, and the two performances could not have taken place on a more perfect summer afternoon and evening.

The incidents chosen by the authors to illumine the Abbey's History grouped themselves around the philosophical idea of 'The Soul of Man' in search of God, of Truth, and of the god like qualities of Humility, Faithfulness, justice and Charity. Last of all the Soul is questing after Happiness. Between the scenes runs a connecting reading or recitative in which the Soul relates the deeds of mercy and endowments of past benefactors, as emanating from the ideals of the human heart, and connotes them with daily life as lived long ago and also to day.

Some acts showed humour and the happy innocence of children and of peasant folk. One or two were grandly equipped for the visits of a King and Queen, the Earl and Countess of Oxenford, and the worthy Bishop. A dramatic episode was the murder by poison of the Lord Abbot, for his supposed treason to King Henry, his allegiance being first owed to his sainted lord King Richard. 'A Day in the Life of the Abbey'. gave a picture of domestic tasks and contented usefulness.

Then the scene changed to the final breaking up of the monastery ; the monks are left homeless, their treasured possessions being sold to the highest bidder. A last solitary brother lingers to lament their fate, adoring the wooden cross, despised by the rude despoilers. Awed, the chafferers behold a light, while triumphant singing rises in the distance.

In all the scenes Essex men and women acquitted themselves well. A number of our clergy represented the Abbots and the Canons, the interspersed readings were given from a desk with good intonation, the long cast front of the restored Abbey made an ideal background both for sight and hearing, as well as for entrance and exit. Strains of music burst through the open windows of the large hall. When in the final act the massed choirs of All Saints, Maldon, united in singing a grand chorale, the entire audience was moved to enthusiasm.

The Essex Drama Society has opened its career with a noble, dignified and artistic performance which gives good augury to the future.

The Souvenir, or book of words, which had been exquisitely printed, is illustrated, by Mr. R. E. Thomas's kindness, with views of the interior and exterior of the Abbey in its present state, and an old print of 1815 showing its then ruinous condition. Many persons living remember its Chapter House as a stall for cattle deeply embedded in straw. The fortv two pages and pictures in an illuminated cover make it a precious possession.