I wanted to visit Bayham Abbey because I had come across the Abbey when I was making Green Lewisham. The original Abbey was founded in Brockley, in Lewisham, and then moved down to Sussex.
A brief history
Bayham Abbey, near to today’s town of Lamberhurst, was founded in 1208 by the merger of two abbeys – Otham and Brockley.
The order also quickly established in the UK, including Brockley, which is where I first heard of it. The order spread rapidly in Europe and the first Premonstratensians arrived in England in 1143, founding their first house at Newhouse (or Newsham) in Lincolnshire. Eventually there were thirty-seven abbeys, two nunneries and four other priories in Britain. The abbey in Brockley was founded by Countess Juliana de Vere Bigod but only lasted c.30 years before moving down to Sussex.1
The mother house was Prémontré Abbey in France which was founded by Norbert of Xanten in 1120, but suppressed during the French Revolution. Nothing of significance remains of the original Abbey, but some 18th building are now used as a hospital, and have also been converted to a hotel. 2 3 The order is for ordained priests, referred to as White Canons because they dressed in white.
The Countess married Hugh Bigod, the first Earl of Norfolk, and Bigod Castle in Bungay is a well-known local attraction.
Bayham Abbey
The original abbey is in ruins, which are overlooked by a new establishment on the hillside above, which is now a house and privately owned.
The Church
The Cloister
The Premonstatensians were priests living in a community and they followed the rule of St Augustine.
Details
It was a fascinating visit, and there is more detail, which I don’t want to repeat, on this post. 4 And there is more information about the contemporary order here.5
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