Egglestone Abbey

Egglestone Abbey is a ruined medieval monastery near Barnard Castle in County Durham, standing on the south bank of the River Tees southeast of the town. The land was once part of the North Riding of Yorkshire. English Heritage looks after the site, and you can walk in for free.

What is Egglestone Abbey?

It was a small house of Premonstratensian canons, the order nicknamed the White Canons for their pale habits. Their rule was austere, close in spirit to the Cistercians, and they enjoyed freedom from close oversight by bishops. The abbey dates to the late twelfth century. Accounts disagree on the exact year, giving anything from 1168 to 1198, and the founders are generally named as the Multon family. The community stayed poor throughout its life.

What happened after the Dissolution?

The abbey closed in 1540 under Henry VIII. In 1548 the estate went to Robert Strelley, who turned part of the monastic buildings into a private mansion. Stone from the site was later carried off to build nearby Rokeby Hall. The Morritt family subsequently owned the ruins, and in 1925 they passed into state care.

What can you see today?

The roofless walls of the abbey church survive, along with remains of the buildings that once surrounded the cloister. Parts of the Strelley-era house are still visible, built into the old monastic rooms. The setting above the Tees makes it a photogenic, quiet stop. The site carries two designations: the ruins are Grade I listed (listed in 1987), and the wider monastic area, including its inner precinct, enclosures and the post-medieval house, is a Scheduled Monument (listed in 1915, entry 1011642 in the National Heritage List for England).

How do you get to Egglestone Abbey?

Start in Barnard Castle, which is close by; the abbey stands on the opposite side of the river from the town centre. You can walk it or take a short drive. While you are in the area, pair it with Barnard Castle itself and the Bowes Museum for an easy day in Teesdale.

When should you visit?

The ruins stand in the open air, so a dry day between late spring and early autumn works best. There is no ticket to buy, which makes the abbey an easy stop to fit into a longer drive without planning around opening times.

Frequently asked questions

Is Egglestone Abbey free to enter? Yes. English Heritage manages the site and admission costs nothing.

Where is Egglestone Abbey? In County Durham, southeast of Barnard Castle on the south bank of the Tees.

Who founded it? The Multon family is usually credited. The foundation falls in the late twelfth century, with the precise year depending on the source.

What became of the abbey after 1540? Robert Strelley received the lands and converted part of the buildings into a house. Later, stone was reused at Rokeby Hall, and the ruins came into state ownership in 1925.