Beaulieu Abbey, Grid reference SU389026, was a Cistercian house in Hampshire, one of the three monasteries founded by King John (c. 1204) and peopled by thirty monks from Cîteaux. It was visited by Most Haunted Live on October.31.2003 for a investigation by Yvette Fielding and Richard Felix.

Early history

The first Abbot of Beaulieu was Hugh. The founder granted it a rich endowment, including land in the New Forest, corn, money, one hundred and twenty cows, twelve bulls, a golden chalice, and an annual tun of wine.

The buildings were dedicated in 1246, in the presence of King Henry III and his queen, Richard, Earl of Cornwall, and many prelates and nobles.

Pope Innocent III constituted Beaulieu an "exempt abbey", with the right of sanctuary; and this was sought in 1471 by Ann Neville, wife of Warwick the King-maker, the day before the battle of Barnet.

Twenty-six years later Perkin Warbeck fled to Beaulieu from the pursuing armies of Henry VII.

Dissolution

The last abbot of Beaulieu was Thomas Stephens, elected in 1535. Shortly before the dissolution of the monastery in 1539, the Visitors' report mentioned that "thirty-two sanctuary-men, who were here for debt, felony, or murder", were living within the monastic precincts with their wives and families.

Modern history

Although much was destroyed at the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries during the reign of Henry VIII, there is still much for visitors to see today.

The Domus, once the lay brothers' refectory, houses an exhibition of monastic life prior to the Abbey's purchase by Thomas Wriothesley, 1st Earl of Southampton in 1538.

Visitors can view a series of modern embroidered wall hangings depicting scenes from medieval monastic life and the history of the Abbey since 1204.

The Abbey Cloister is a place of tranquillity, planted with fragrant herbs.

In medieval times, when the Abbey was an important Cistercian monastery, the monks would have provided hospitality to visitors. Indeed, by the 15th century when the monks' numbers had dwindled, the Domus was adapted to accommodate important guests.

That tradition remains today, for the Domus is now regularly used for events, dining and corporate hospitality.

References

• This article incorporates text from the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia.