NETLEY ABBEY RUINS

Netley Abbey Ruins    

The Abbey, from which the village got its name, is the most complete Cistercian monastery in Southern England.  It originated when a colony of monks of the Cistercian Order crossed Southampton Water from Beaulieu to establish a new religious house at Netley in 1239.

Founded by Peter des Roche, Bishop of Winchester, and officially named St.Mary of Edwardsto ( Sanctae Mariae de Loco Sancti Edwardi), the Abbey was under the patronage of Henry 111, whose name appears on the foundation stone at the base of the north east crossing tower. It was probably built by the King's Mason, who also constructed Westminster Abbey.

Monastic life continued for three centuries at the Abbey, until its dissolution by Henry V111 in 1536.

Henry V111 granted the site of the Abbey to William Paulet, who converted it into a private residence destroying a lot of the original Abbey structure in the process.

Around 1700 a new owner, William Seymour, second Earl of Hertford, demolished and sold a lot of the stone fabric of the Abbey as building material, leaving the ruin we have today. Some of this stone was used to re-build St. Mary's Church in Southampton.

The Abbey Ruins are maintained as an ancient monument by English Heritage and are freely open to the public throughout the year. 

On the English Heritage web site can be found downloadable audio clips in MP3 format,  taking you on a tour around the Abbey grounds.

On St. George's Day, guides & scouts from all over the region gather for a parade & service within the grounds.

Mass is celebrated annually in the ruins in honour of the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady.

The plays of Shakespeare are also performed within the grounds on a regular basis.