Whalley Abbey

I had the opportunity to visit the ruins of Whalley Abbey in Lancashire today as well as it's neighbouring 13th century Church of St Mary and All Saints.

The choir stalls in the church were originally made for the Abbey around 1430 and moved to the Church at the Dissolution.

The Abbey itself was a Cistercian house, having moved from Stanlow in Cheshire in 1296. The Abbey Church was completed in 1380 although the Abbot's lodging wasn't finished until 1440.

The monks sang the office in stalls over a Choir pit, which is still very clearly visible today. It is believed these covered ditches added resonance to the chant.

In 1537 the buildings passed into private ownership and a Manor House was built of the sacred stones. So it remained until it became the property of the Anglican Church in 1923. It is now the Diocese of Bradford's retreat house and they have built a new stone altar on the site of the ancient High Altar, in the midst of the ruins.