Polesworth Abbey was a Benedictine nunnery in Polesworth, North Warwickshire, England.

By the late 600s Edgyth (Editha), Athea and Osgyth had established hermitages at Polesworth from which the village and Benedictine Abbey developed. The detail of this early foundation was incorporated into the twelfth-century hagiographical Life of St Modwynn of Burton upon Trent. In 1066, Sir Robert Marmion expelled the nuns from Polesworth, but after seeing a vision of St. Edith, he allowed them to return; in 1242, King Henry III granted the abbey a weekly market, as well as an annual fair for St Margaret. The 14th-century gatehouse is both a Grade II* listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. It has recently been restored and renovated to provide apartments available for rent.

Parish church

Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536, the Abbey was granted by Henry VIII to Francis Goodere of St Albans, Hertfordshire in 1544; Goodere dismantled many of the Abbey buildings to provide stone for a new manor house (Polesworth Hall) which he built on the site. Later Sir Henry Goodere was a patron of the arts and leader of the Polesworth Group of poets, which included his protégé Michael Drayton.

Polesworth Hall was demolished before 1868 and the Vicarage was built on the site. The abbey now functions as the Church of England parish church of Polesworth.

Organ

The church contains a three manual pipe organ by Taylor of Leicester. It was originally installed in 1912 in St Michael & All Angels' Church, Leicester. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.

See also

  • List of English abbeys, priories and friaries serving as parish churches

References

Other sources

  • A History of the County of Warwickshire, Volume 4 (1947) from British History online
  • Polesworth Abbey by Warwickshire Timetrail.
  • Polesworth Abbey
  • Polesworth Abbey Choir
  • Polesworth Abbey Arts
  • British History website, list of Abbesses from opening until 1539