English Heritage

Hailes Abbey was one of medieval England’s most renowned shrines. It became a major pilgrimage destination when, in 1270, the abbey was presented with a sensational relic – allegedly a phial of Christ’s blood. Pilgrims flocked to see it and financed the rebuilding of the abbey on a magnificent scale.

In the 1530s the relic was denounced as a fake, and Hailes Abbey was closed and plundered. Today, the on-site museum helps you imagine Hailes in all its glory. You’ll see lavish sculpture, heraldic floor tiles and one of the oldest surviving medieval spectacle frames.

You can visit Hailes Abbey on a guided tour on selected days.