Beeleigh Abbey Gardens

Beeleigh Abbey was established in 1180 and granted its Royal Charter in 1189 by King Richard I. Standing on the shores of the River Chelmer, it was the home of Norbertine Canons until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1536. The Abbey received a visit from King Edward I and Queen Eleanor in 1289, who came to visit the shrine of Beeleigh’s very own saint, St Roger of Beeleigh.

Following the Dissolution, the Abbey and its lands were gifted to Sir John Gates, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. He was later beheaded for his support of Lady Jane Grey, and the Abbey passed through a series of private hands over the ensuing centuries.

In 1943, the Abbey was purchased by the Foyles, the renowned booksellers. Over 81 years they undertook a series of major restorative works to the main Abbey building.

In 2024, the Abbey was purchased by its current owners. They have set out to make preservation, conservation, and rural enterprise the focus for the next period of the Abbey’s long history. They are delighted to become the custodians of this very special place.