Coggeshall Abbey: Grade 1 Listed Monastery Turned Into House
This 1,000-year-old medieval monastery has been turned into a spectacular home.
The Abbey at Coggeshall in Colchester, Essex has witnessed centuries of English history and it was recently on sale for £2.5 million.
Savills Estate Agents were selling the property, and all the photos in this article were taken by them.
The Abbey, Grade 1 listed, is one of the earliest medieval uses of brick in England.
Founded in 1164 by King Stephen of England and Matilda de Boulogne, the property became home to members of the Savignac religious order before becoming a Cistercian abbey.
In 1216, an incident was recorded that "King John's army violently entered the abbey and carried off twenty-two horses of the bishop of London and others."
It is also known that the reigning abbot in 1260 was travelling abroad as the envoy of the King.
By 1370, the monastery was reported to be very poor, partly due to excessive spending and other mismanagement.
The abbey church was rapidly ransacked and subsequently demolished.
A new house was built in 1581 on part of the monastery site and still stands today.
The abbey gate chapel survives restored as 'St. Nicholas Chapel', which hosts a monthly Sunday service.
The stunning property, which was currently on sale, has five bedrooms and three bathrooms, plus an additional bedroom in the adjoining cottage.
There’s also a family room, a library, a grand hall, a study and a dining room.
Beyond the main house there are extensive grounds featuring landscaped gardens, a swimming pool, a bridge, three barns, a collection of stables, a courtyard and a manège.
That’s not to mention the pièce de résistance – the private chapel dating back to 1162, making it one of the oldest buildings on the property.
Former Medieval Monastery
A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone.
A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which may be a chapel, church or temple.
A monastery complex typically comprises a number of buildings which include a church, dormitory, cloister, refectory, library and infirmary.
Depending on the location, the monastic order and the occupation of its inhabitants, the complex may also include a wide range of buildings that facilitate self-sufficiency and service to the community.
These may include range of agricultural and manufacturing buildings such as a barn.
Coggeshall Abbey features its own bar, pictured further below.
As for the location, not only is Coggeshall itself a charming little market town, it’s also just off the main A120, close to the main A12 London to Colchester route.
Check out more photos of the property below, taken by Savills Estate Agents:
If you’d like to learn more about this property, contact Savills Estate Agents.
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