Guidebook: Hailes Abbey

Hailes Abbey, by Dr Michael Carter, Senior Historian at English Heritage, explores the architecture, history and royal connections of this important Cistercian abbey in Gloucestershire, which came to national prominence in the 13th century as a pilgrimage destination when it was presented by with a relic of the blood shed by Christ on the Cross. The new guidebook includes a tour of the remains of the abbey, and deepens our understanding of the history of the site by examining contemporary written sources to reveal new information about the daily lives of the monks of Hailes. The accounts of prominent writers who visited the site, such as the medieval mystic Margery Kempe, provide a vivid picture of the significance of Hailes and its relic during the medieval period and after. Following the dispersal of much of the glass and stonework from the abbey to surrounding churches, and the later transformations of parts of the remains into a country house, the site was eventually abandoned to romantic ruination. Its rediscovery in the 19th and early 20th century and the foundation in the 1930s of the site museum – which reopens at the end of June after a re-presentation of the collection – continue the story of Hailes up to the present day. Hailes Abbey contains astonishing new photography, as well as maps and plans, which bring this history of this important and atmospheric site to life. Key Features: English Heritage Guidebook Published June 2017 48 pages including photos, maps and plans Paperback