Shaftesbury Abbey

Considering the importance of this ancient Benedictine nunnery, it is absolutely incredible that it has all but disappeared. Founded by Alfred the Great cAD888, his daughter became the first abbess of Shaftesbury Abbey and royal connections were maintained until the eventual Dissolution in 1539.

With the ceremonious entombment of the body of the murdered boy-King Edward in AD979 this site also became a centre of pilgrimage. Subsequently the abbey church was dedicated to St Mary and St Edward, and the King's bones claimed to have miraculous properties. The supposed site of his shrine is now marked among the ruins. Known to have visited by successive royals on many occasions, Shaftesbury Abbey was a place especially adored by King Canute and it seems fitting that it was here he died in 1035.

Living on the prestige of royal patronage, and the fact that the bones of Edward the Martyr were held here, Shaftesbury Abbey became the largest and richest Benedictine house for women in England. Land held as part of the abbey estate extended beyond Dorset, into Wiltshire, parts of Hampshire and possibly other counties. More details will be known when a medieval Latin document, listing land ownership, has been translated. During the 14th century records have indicated that as many as 120 nuns were occupying the site on several occasions, and even at the dissolution there were still over 50 nuns in residence.

It would appear that as soon as 10 years after the dissolution Shaftesbury Abbey had begun to fall into a state of disrepair. Neglected and ruinous the site made for an easily accessible quarry and, over the next 300 years, much of the stone was used for new building in the town. Almost forgotten and completely overgrown the site eventually came into the care of the Shaftesbury Abbey and Museum Preservation Trust Company in 1985.

Now presented as a walled garden, carpeted with a mixture of wild flowers, cultured plants and herbs, it is possible with a site plan (and a good imagination) to trace the foundations of the original Norman Church nestling among the profusion of colour. If at first you feel disappointed by the lack of decent structural evidence of the old abbey, just persevere because the rewards of this delightful site extend beyond architectural finds. Everything about Shaftesbury Abbey epitomises the pure and simple life led by the Benedictine nuns, and the blissful tranquillity experienced by spending an hour or so amongst the rubbled remains of their dedicated life is priceless.

The site has been the subject of several excavations over the past 150 years and the museum presents a fascinating collection of artefacts and carved stonework from the Norman abbey. Further excavation work is ongoing on the site and all new finds will be displayed in the recently refurbished museum.