poe's Pictures of Tewkesbury Abbey

The Tewkesbury Abbey Choir

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Tewkesbury Abbey

Milton organ at Tewkesbury Abbey

The famous Milton Organ inside Tewkesbury Abbey. The oldest Standing Milton organ in England that is in daily use.

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Tewkesbury Abbey

Tomb inside Tewkesbury Abbey

It is believed that Tewkesbury Abbey, with the exception of Westminster Abbey, contains more medieval tombs than any other church in Britain. Resting within its tombs are Abbot Alan, the former Prior of Canterbury, who became Abbot of Tewkesbury after the murder of Thomas Becket. Edward of Lancaster -Prince of Wales, and George the Duke of Clarence, who drowned in a butt of Malmsey wine according to William Shakespeare.

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Tewkesbury Abbey

Tewkesbury Abbeys norman tower

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Tewkesbury Abbey

Tewkesbury Abbey

Although at present day we see the abbey in its serene enviroment, isolated by its churchyards and lawns, it was at one time the centre of a huddle of buildings hemming it in from all sides.

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Tewkesbury Abbey

Tewkesbury Abbey

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Tewkesbury Abbey

Inside Tewkesbury Abbey

After the suppression of the monastry, the good folk of Tewkesbury who had been accustomed to using the western part of the nave for worship, got together and approached King Henry VIII through his commissioners and petitioned him for permission to purchase the whole of the Abbey to use as their Parish Church. The King agreed to let them have it but they were charged �453 which covered the cost of the lead on the roof and the metal of the bells. This was a considerable sum of money in those days and took the people of Tewkesbury 2 years to raise, but they did it, and it is thanks to them that the abbey still stands for us to enjoy and use today. The crown seized all the abbey lands and endowments.

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Tewkesbury Abbey

The Kneeling Knight

The Kneeling Knight is an effigy of Lord Edward despenser in full armour and at prayer. Lord of the manor of Tewkesbury and Knight of the Garter, he lived in Tewkesbury from 1358 until his death in 1375. His figure is facing the high altar on top of the chantry chapel of the Holy Trinity which he had built.

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Tewkesbury Abbey

Inside Tewkesbury Abbey

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Tewkesbury Abbey

Inside Tewkesbury Abbey

For over 400 years since it's foundation, the great abbey of Tewkesbury under the patronage of the greatest families in the land, had been amassing enormous wealth until it had become one of the richest in England. In the year before it's dissolution in 1539, it's revenues were over �300,000 in todays money. The abbey was finally surrendered to the kings commissioners on 9th January 1540. It's possesions which were listed on 74 sheets of parchment were seized by the crown, and it's great Lady Chapel and monastic buildings were ordered to be dissmantled by the commissioners. The monks of the abbey were granted small pensions, and the last abbot, John Wakeman aquired forthampton court just north of Tewkesbury.The King also created him the first Bishop of the new see of Gloucester. His memorial, the Wakeman Cenotaph, can be seen at the abbey today. It depicts the Cadaver of a monk covered in vermin, with snakes, rats, snail and the like, all feasting on his rotting corpse! It is a memento mori - a reminder of death.

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Tewkesbury Abbey

The giant Norman Towers inside Tewkesbury Abbey

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Tewkesbury Abbey

Tewkesbury Abbey's norman tower stands 132ft high and is the highest Norman tower in England!

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Tewkesbury Abbey

Church Street in Tewkesbury

A view of the high Norman tower of the abbey. Notice the old hat shop sign on the right of this picture.

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Tewkesbury Abbey

A street in Tewkesbury

The top of the abbey visible over the top of the famous Tewkesbury Abbey Cottages

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Tewkesbury Abbey, Tewkesbury, Abbeys and Cathedrals, Street Scenes, England 2012 Olympics

Tewkesbury Abbey

The present building was started around 1090 but it is believed that before that, it was the site of a saxon abbey founded around the year AD 715

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Tewkesbury Abbey, Cotswolds