Bit of a cheat today. This photo of Egglestone Abbey near Barnard Castle was taken just a couple of metres from the van on my way home. I did however run past it yesterday and had mentally logged the location. Knowing I would have to take the dog out up my local hill when I got home and where photo opportunities are becoming exhausted I hope I am forgiven.
Egglestone Abbey, on the south bank of the Tees, that’s the river in the foreground, was Premonstratensian. I understand this means it was occupied by Canons Regular or priests of the Roman Catholic faith rather than monks like at Reivaulx. Monks lived a secluded, contemplative life whereas Canons Regular carried out preaching and pastoral work in the local community. This could be the handing out of food to the needy for instance. They still followed a code of austerity and wore a habit but this was white so they became known as the White Canons.
The Abbey dates from the late 12th century and was never as rich as the Cistercian monasteries. It took a hammering from both the Scots and English armies two centuries later but the end finally came in 1540 when was King Henry VIII disbanded it in his Dissolution of the Monasteries.
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