West Lulworth Priory

Bindon Abbey

Bindon Abbey was a Cistercian monastery situated in Dorset, England, with a history spanning over four centuries. Its establishment in 1149 marked the beginning of a monastic presence in the region, though its early years were characterized by challenges with its initial location.

Founding and Relocation

The monastery was first founded in 1149 by William de Glastonia on a site near Lulworth Cove. This initial location proved too demanding to sustain the community. Consequently, in 1172, the monastery relocated to a new site near Wool, a move facilitated by Roger de Newburgh and his wife, Matilda de Glastonia, who also provided further endowments. Despite the change in location, the abbey retained the name of its original site.

Royal Patronage and Economic Struggles

Bindon Abbey benefited from the support of the Plantagenet kings, with Henry III granting several letters of protection. In 1280, the abbey was granted the significant right to hold a weekly market and an annual fair at Wool. However, from the 14th century onwards, the abbey began to experience a period of decline, marked by internal and economic difficulties that severely impacted its income and wealth. By 1329, historical accounts described it as "grievously burdened with debt for want of good rule."

Dissolution and Later History

The abbey's financial standing remained precarious, with its annual income valued at £147 in the Valor Ecclesiasticus of 1535, classifying it as one of the smaller monasteries. Although scheduled for Dissolution in 1536, the then abbot, John Norman, paid a substantial sum to the Crown in an attempt to save it. Nevertheless, the abbey was ultimately suppressed in 1539. The site was subsequently granted to Thomas Poynings, Baron Poynings, and later passed to Thomas Howard, Viscount Howard of Bindon. In 1641, the Weld family, who were prominent Roman Catholics, purchased the site.

Architectural Remains and Literary Significance

Today, Bindon Abbey exists primarily as ruins. The surviving foundations and walls indicate a standard Cistercian layout, featuring a cruciform church with a nave, side aisles, and chapels. Construction appears to have taken place around the turn of the 12th and 13th centuries, with later evidence of rebuilding efforts in the early 13th century. Fragments of a 14th-century pulpitum and architectural features derived from its mother house, Forde Abbey, in the chapter-house are still visible. A "Gothick" house, Bindon Abbey House, was constructed on part of the former abbey grounds between 1794 and 1798 and is still extant, currently serving as a wellness retreat. The abbey ruins and the grave of an abbot are notably referenced in Thomas Hardy's classic novel "Tess of the d'Urbervilles."