 Bury St Edmunds Abbey
The forlorn and fragmented ruins of Bury St Edmunds Abbey today cannot begin
to portray the image of a once wealthy and powerful monastery. Indeed,
it was among the richest Benedictine monasteries in England. This religious
site had already been in use for nearly three centuries when the martyred
remains of King Edmund were enshrined at the round, stone Saxon monastery,
thereby making it a popular place of pilgrimage.
Although the structure of the Norman abbey was begun soon after the great invasion of 1066, the
monastic church was much enlarged and rebuilt during the 12th
century. At some 505ft (153m) long, and spanning 246ft (74.5m) across the width of it's
westerly transept, Bury St Edmunds abbey church was one of the largest
in the country. Between various building projects undertaken during the
13th and 14th centuries, the monks encountered much
hostility from the local people who tired of being under the influence
of this powerful abbey. Throughout the summer of 1327 the monastery suffered
extensively. Several monks lost their lives in the riots, and many of
the buildings were completely destroyed. Other disturbances, disputes
and disasters befell Bury St Edmunds Abbey for a further five decades,
resulting in yet more building operations.
Already faced with considerable
financial strain, Bury St Edmunds Abbey went even further into decline after unfortunate
events in the first half of the 15th century. In 1431 the
west tower of the abbey church collapsed. Two years later Henry VI decided
to stay at Bury St Edmunds Abbey for Christmas, and was still enjoying monastic
hospitality four months later. Bury St Edmunds abbey was at the centre of trouble
again in 1446 when the Duke of Gloucester died in suspicious circumstances
after his arrest. To end this catalogue of disasters, the entire church
was burnt out in 1465 following an accidental fire. Largely rebuilt
by 1506, the abbey of Bury St Edmunds settled into a quieter existence
until the time of Dissolution in 1539. Subsequently stripped of all
valuable building materials and artefacts, the abbey ruins were left
as a convenient quarry for local builders.
The abbey precincts were vast, and several gatehouses were positioned along the boundary walls,
but only two have survived intact. Both located at the western edge of
the site, the Great Gate and St James' Gate (the Norman tower) were constructed
some 200 years apart, but each is a magnificent architectural monument
to the particular building period. Despite there being so little visible
evidence today of the abbey church and claustral buildings, the fine detail
on these two gateways is a good indication of the quality and skill employed
in the construction of Bury St Edmunds Abbey. It is remarkable to think that just
500 years ago a thriving community of some 80 monks were living, working
and worshipping on the very site which has since been reduced to nothing
more than a pile of rubble.
Combining a visit to Bury St Edmunds Abbey with one to
St Edmundsbury Cathedral
will provide a fascinating comparison of religious life and styles. |
