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HAILES ABBEY: HISTORY AND STORIES
Set in tranquil Cotswolds countryside, Hailes Abbey was once one of the most significant pilgrimage sites in medieval England. Visitors flocked to see the Holy Blood of Hailes – a relic so prized it was mentioned by Geoffrey Chaucer in The Canterbury Tales. The shrine to the Holy Blood was destroyed during Henry VIII’s Suppression of the Monasteries and the abbey soon fell into ruin.
Today the former splendour of Hailes Abbey is evoked by its beautiful surviving stonework and museum collection. On these web pages you can learn more about the history of the site, explore the highlights of the collection in 3D and watch experts discuss their favourite objects in the abbey’s museum.
The Treasures of Hailes Abbey
Step into the world of Hailes Abbey in medieval England. In this short video historian Michael Carter and curator Ian Leins take us behind the scenes at the abbey museum and pick three star objects which bring the stories of Hailes to life. The exquisite carving of Samson and the Lion on a stone ceiling boss hints at the splendour of the monastic architecture, while a fragment of bone spectacles helps us to imagine the lives of the monks who once worshipped and studied here. The third object – a 16th-century seal depicting the Holy Blood of Hailes – evokes the importance of the abbey as a place of pilgrimage.
Explore the Collection In 3D
Scroll through the images below to view the highlights of Hailes Abbey’s museum collection in 3D. Click the play button and use your cursor or touch screen to rotate the object and zoom in. For descriptions of each object, click the title in the top left of the screen (opens in new window).
Models derived photogrammetrically by Jon Bedford of the Geospatial Imaging Team at Historic England on behalf of English Heritage.
The Stories of Hailes Abbey
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History of Hailes Abbey
Discover the full story of Hailes Abbey, from its foundation in the 13th century to its downfall under Henry VIII and subsequent rediscovery in the 19th century.
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The Holy Blood of Hailes
The fortunes of Hailes Abbey were transformed by the arrival of a holy relic. Learn how the Holy Blood of Hailes contributed to both the rise and fall of the monastery.
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Misbehaving Monks of Hailes Abbey
From visiting taverns to singing at the wrong pitch, the monks of Hailes Abbey couldn’t always meet the high standards expected of them.
Find out more
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Monasteries and Abbeys
Learn more about England's medieval monasteries and abbeys and uncover the stories of those who lived and prayed in them.
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A mini guide to Medieval Monks
Do you know the difference between the Benedictines, Cluniacs, Carthusians and Cistercians? This short animation will guide you through the different religious communities in medieval Britain.
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Buy the Guidebook
Explore Hailes Abbey with this lavishly illustrated guidebook, which bring the history of this important and atmospheric site to life.
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Download a plan
Download this PDF plan to discover how the buildings of Hailes Abbey developed over time.