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Egglestone Abbey
Egglestone Abbey is an abandoned Premonstratensian Abbey on the southern (Yorkshire) bank of the River Tees, 1 1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) south-east of Barnard Castle in County Durham, England, at grid reference NZ061151. Historically part of the North Riding of Yorkshire.
The site buildings are protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and they are maintained by English Heritage, Admission is free, and the opening Hours are 10am-6pm.
The Abbey was founded in the late 12th century at some point between 1168 and 1198. The founders were the Premonstratensians who wore a white habit and became known as the White Canons. The followed a code of austerity similar to that of Cistercian monks, unlike monks of other orders, they were exempt from the strict Episcopal discipline. They undertook preaching and pastoral work in the region (such as distributing meat and drink).
They chose the site for the abbey because of its isolation, close proximity to a river and the supply of local stone for its construction.
In common with many of the early monasteries, the original church at Egglestone Abbey was enlarged, and partly rebuilt, about one hundred years later, it is this later church that survives today.
The abbey was always poor and at times had difficulty maintaining the required number of canons (twelve – from the Twelve Apostles).
Egglestone Abbey was to suffer at the hands of Scottish invaders and the rowdy English army who were billeted there in 1346 on their way to the Battle of Neville's Cross outside Durham.
The Abbey was dissolved in 1540 by king Henry VIII, the lands were granted to Robert Strelly in 1548, who converted some of the buildings into a great private house that was abandoned in the mid-19th century.
Eventually, much of the abbey was pulled down and some of the stonework was used to pave the stable yard at the nearby Rokeby Park in the 19th century.
Other Premonstratensian Abbeys include;
- Shap Abbey in Cumbria and
- Easby Abbey in North Yorkshire.
Visit the page: Egglestone Abbey for references and further details. You can contribute to this article on Wikipedia.
![](/uploads/thumbs2/English_Heritage.png)
from http://www.english-heritage.o…
Egglestone Abby - English Heritage
- "The abbey of St Mary and St John the Baptist was founded at Egglestone between 1195 and 1198 for Premonstratensian canons. St Norbert had founded the Premonstratensian Order at Prémontré …
Added by
Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7367/10474603495_244bbc4b7e_z.jpg)
from Flickr (flickr)
37. Abbey Bridge near Barnard Castle, Durham by James Wilson (c.1869)
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/29/Eggleston_abbey_by_BYRNE%2C_WILLIAM_-_GMII.jpg)
from http://commons.wikimedia.org/…
Eggleston abbey by BYRNE, WILLIAM (1782)
- Public domain image
Added by
Simon Cotterill
![](/uploads/thumbs2/historic_england.png)
from https://historicengland.org.u…
RUINS OF EGGLESTONE ABBEY - List Entry
- "Ruins of Premonstratensian Abbey. Church and cloister first built 1195-1225; presbytery rebuilt c.1250; nave widened to south, south transept rebuilt and west range constructed 1275-1300; cloister ranges converted to house …
Added by
Simon Cotterill
![](http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/21/54/5215497_c2cebe99.jpg)
from Geograph (geograph)
Egglestone Abbey: Tomb of Sir Ralph Bowes of Streatlam
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![Barnard Castle (town)](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/photos/00/70/007065_37eb11a9.jpg)
  Co-Curate Page
Barnard Castle (town)
- Overview History Map Street View Barnard Castle is a market town in Teesdale, County Durham. The town is named after the castle around which it developed. It is located on …
![](/static/img/loading.gif)
![](/uploads/thumbs2/English_Heritage.png)
from http://www.english-heritage.o…
Egglestone Abby - English Heritage
- "The abbey of St Mary and St John the Baptist was founded at Egglestone between 1195 and 1198 for Premonstratensian canons. St Norbert had founded the Premonstratensian Order at Prémontré …
Added by
Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7367/10474603495_244bbc4b7e_z.jpg)
from Flickr (flickr)
37. Abbey Bridge near Barnard Castle, Durham by James Wilson (c.1869)
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/29/Eggleston_abbey_by_BYRNE%2C_WILLIAM_-_GMII.jpg)
from http://commons.wikimedia.org/…
Eggleston abbey by BYRNE, WILLIAM (1782)
- Public domain image
Added by
Simon Cotterill
![](/uploads/thumbs2/historic_england.png)
from https://historicengland.org.u…
RUINS OF EGGLESTONE ABBEY - List Entry
- "Ruins of Premonstratensian Abbey. Church and cloister first built 1195-1225; presbytery rebuilt c.1250; nave widened to south, south transept rebuilt and west range constructed 1275-1300; cloister ranges converted to house …
Added by
Simon Cotterill
![](http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/21/54/5215497_c2cebe99.jpg)
from Geograph (geograph)
Egglestone Abbey: Tomb of Sir Ralph Bowes of Streatlam
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![Barnard Castle (town)](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/photos/00/70/007065_37eb11a9.jpg)
  Co-Curate Page
Barnard Castle (town)
- Overview History Map Street View Barnard Castle is a market town in Teesdale, County Durham. The town is named after the castle around which it developed. It is located on …
List number: 1322741
County: County Durham
Post code: DL12 9TN
Wikipedia: Egglestone Abbey
Grid ref: NZ0624715099