St. Mary of Graces Abbey
| Cistercian Abbey of St. Mary of Graces (London) | |
|---|---|
 View of the monastery |
|
| location |
 United Kingdom England Greater London |
| Coordinates: | 51 ° 30 ′ 31 ″ N , 0 ° 4 ′ 19 ″ W |
| Patronage | St. Mary |
| founding year | 1350 |
| Year of dissolution / annulment |
1538 |
| Mother monastery | Beaulieu Abbey |
| Primary Abbey | Citeaux monastery |
|
Daughter monasteries |
no |
St. Mary of Graces Abbey (Beatae Mariae de Gratiis; Eastminster; New Abbey) is a former Cistercian abbey in London , England . The monastery was about 200 m northeast of the Tower of London .
history
The monastery is the youngest medieval establishment of a Cistercian abbey in England (hence the name "New Abbey"). It was built in 1350 by King Edward III. founded and was a daughter monastery of Beaulieu Abbey . Thus it belonged to the filiation of the Cîteaux monastery . In addition to the abbot, the monastery initially had only six monks. The church was completed around 1391 while the hospital and abbot house were still under construction. The monastery became one of the wealthiest in the British Isles; in 1535 his annual income was estimated at £ 547. In 1538 the monastery was dissolved and Sir Arthur Darcey received his goods. The church was demolished just five years after it was dissolved. At the end of the 16th century the monastery had become a naval supply base. In 1799 it was used as a tobacco warehouse. In 1810 the site was cleared for the establishment of the Royal Mint.
Plant and buildings
The church was in the north of the complex, the enclosure south of it. Excavations have taken place more recently.
literature
- Anthony New: A guide to the Abbeys of England and Wales. Constable & Company, London 1985, ISBN 0-09-463520-X , p. 244.
