Leicester Abbey

The abbey in the meadows

Leicester Abbey (demolished around 1538) lay just to the north-east of medieval Leicester, beside the main road leading to Nottingham and Derby, in a pleasant spot next to the River Soar. A number of magnificent ruins related to the abbey complex remain today and can be seen in the grounds of Abbey Park.

It was founded in 1138-9 as an abbey of Augustinian canons by Robert ‘le Bossu’ (the hunchback), the second Earl of Leicester. Earl Robert transferred to the abbey the lands that his father had used to endow a college of canons at St Mary de Castro. The abbey was also granted all of the other churches in Leicester, together with a number in Leicestershire and further afield.

On his death in 1168, Robert was buried on the right hand side of the high altar and the earldom passed to his son Robert ‘Blanchmains’ (white hands), whose devout wife, Petronilla, is said to have plaited a long cord from her hair from which to suspend one of the lamps in the choir of the church.

The abbey was dissolved in 1538 and demolished soon afterwards. In the later 16th century, the Hastings family converted the gatehouse into a mansion; this was enlarged by the next owners, the Cavendishes, in the early 17th century, before being burnt down in 1645, during the Civil War.

The Cavendish House ruins today

The abbey complex

Leicester Abbey grew to become one of the wealthiest religious houses in the country, with a community of canons under the charge of an abbot. The abbey precinct was enclosed by a substantial wall with a gatehouse on the north side.

Apart from the precinct walls, all trace of the abbey had disappeared by the 18th century and it was only in the 19th and 20th centuries that the plans of the principal buildings were revealed through archaeological excavation.

In common with other similar establishments, the church lay to the north of a series of buildings that were arranged around a cloister. On the east side was the chapter house, and above it, at first floor level, the dormitory. On the south side was the refectory, beyond which was the kitchen, detached from the main buildings to prevent the spread of fire.

The kitchen was investigated by the University of Leicester in 2002-5 and found to be a large square building with corner fireplaces, making the interior octagonal in shape. At nearly 12 metres across internally, it was one of the largest monastic kitchens in the country.

There were further courtyards to the south of the main ranges of buildings, with guest accommodation, an infirmary and lodgings for pensioners.

A artist impression of Leicester Abbey in its heyday. John Finnie

Famous visitors

Hospitality was an important part of monastic life, and the abbey was expected to extend a warm welcome to visitors. Located on a principle route to London from the north, many important travellers passing through Leicester were entertained at the abbey, including Edward III, Richard II, and Richard III.

Senior members of the clergy also stayed here, the most famous of whom was Cardinal Wolsey, who died at the abbey whilst travelling back to London to face King Henry VIII in 1530: he was subsequently buried in the Lady Chapel of the abbey church.

Find out how to visit.