Thornton Abbey and Gatehouse

Thornton Abbey and the gatehouse is one of the finest of its kind in England and offers visitors a great day out for all the family.

The Abbey was a priory from way back in 1139 and only became an Abbey in 1148 for Augustinian monks.  Henry VIII closed the Abbey as part of the dissolution in 1539.  Now people come from all over the world to take in the details of the 12^th Century Romanesque architecture of which nothing can now be seen, and then the 13 and 14^th Century building remains of the Early Gothic Style which is seen in the chapter house and cloister.

The gatehouse is the most interesting part of this building as it is among the earliest large-scale use of brick in the country and stands two storeys high and is still intact!

Not only will you find out more about how people lived here during these times but there is good local wildlife to see.  Features not to be missed are the amazing oak staircase, interior room, life-size statues above the gate, the moat and gatehouse as well as the picnic grounds.

The Fortified gatehouse of Thornton Abbey is the largest standing at 21 metres (69 feet) high of all English monastic gatehouses. Begun in the 1360s, the gatehouse was enlarged and fortified with battlements after the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381, presumably as insurance against further trouble.

Within the grounds stand the ruins of the monastic buildings that were plundered for stone along with the remains of its formal gardens.

Facilities include car parking, hot and cold drinks, snacks, picnic grounds, a gift shop and toilets.