Winchcombe

Mercia

A Benedictine abbey founded around 798 stood in the heart of Mercia

Winchcombe Abbey was a Benedictine abbey in the heart of Mercia, an Anglo-Saxon kingdom. It was founded about 798 by King Offa or King Coenwulf. Coenwulf and his son Cynehelm, later called Saint Kenelm, were buried there.

Pilgrims

Pilgrims came to Saint Kenelm's tomb and the abbey grew rich

Many pilgrims visited Saint Kenelm's tomb in the Early Middle Ages, and the abbey became very rich. At its height it owned 25,300 acres in 13 parishes.

25,300 acresowned by the abbey at its height

Learning

A Winchcombe master mason built the Divinity School at Oxford

In the early sixteenth century the abbey was known as a centre of learning under Abbot Richard Kidderminster, a renowned preacher. A Winchcombe master mason built the Divinity School at Oxford.

1539

The abbey was surrendered in 1539 and quickly demolished

Winchcombe Abbey was surrendered to the Crown on 23 December 1539, and the monks were pensioned off. The buildings were quickly demolished and the stone was reused in other buildings.

What is left

Stones from the abbey can still be found around Winchcombe

Some of the abbey's stones can still be found in Winchcombe. The lintel over the abbey gate rests over the gate of what was once the George Inn. A stone cross erected in the 19th century marks the centre of the abbey tower.