Waltham Abbey Gardens offer relaxing surroundings rich in history. It’s the reputed burial site of King Harold, after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Some of the remains visible today, including the cloister entry, Abbey gateway, precinct and chapter house walls, and the stone bridge over the Cornmill Stream, give an indication to what was once one of the largest Augustinian Abbeys in the country.
Information panels around the site tell you more about the surviving architecture and the tranquil rose gardens and orchard offer a peaceful retreat. A walkway links from the gardens to the Cornmill Meadows Dragonfly Sanctuary. Laced with pools, ditches and ponds on one side of the river and a matured tree nursery on the other, the site supports over half of Britain’s native species of dragonfly, a waymarked trail leads you around the site. The waterbodies also attract large numbers of birds which can be viewed from the Wake Hide. The Greenwich Meridian Line runs through the site, watch out for the markers as you explore.
Adjacent to the site is the historic market town where you’ll find shops, places to eat and public toilets as well as the church which dates back to the 12th century.
Waltham Abbey
Waltham Abbey and the surrounding area provides a unique blend of heritage and countryside attractions, many of which are free. Waltham Abbey is a town of contrast. With its Church, much of which dates back to the 12th century, 16th century timber framed buildings, and Art Nouveau Town Hall, the town is a living example of how its history has evolved. The historic market town has a museum, a variety of shops, restaurants, cafes and pubs. Nearby you can also visit the 1000 acre River Lee Country Park and Lee Valley Park Farms to make a full day out for the family. Visit Waltham Abbey’s Market Square on either a Tuesday or Saturday to enjoy the traditional open market. What’s more, the main street in the town centre is pedestrianised, so you can stroll around exploring the town’s shops in comfort and there are several conveniently located car parks to choose from. For more information about the town and markets, please contact Waltham Abbey Town Council on 01992 714949 or visit their website www.walthamabbey-tc.gov.uk
The Abbey
The Abbey of Waltham was built in 1184 and was the last Abbey to be destroyed by King Henry VIII in 1540, but there is still a wealth of remains showing the size and power of the Abbey. Not least of which is the current church which used to form the western end of the Abbey Church. Five churches have been built on the site of the current church in Waltham Abbey. Each has been built or expanded on the foundations of the previous ones. The current church is all that remains of the Abbey church. When King Henry VIII decided to close down all Abbeys in the country many buildings were destroyed. At Waltham Abbey it was decided to pull down two-thirds of the church leaving the western end to be converted into a smaller church.
The Abbey of Waltham was so big it had its own blacksmith known as a “Forge”. This particular Forge was known as the Bloomery Forge as it had two “hearths” (the fire’s in which metal was heated) and two “anvils” (the large metal objects blacksmiths used to shape their metal on). This was one of the most expensive buildings in the Abbey as it was made entirely of stone and slate. The reason for this is if it was made of wood, as most buildings were at the time of its construction, it would have very easily caught fire! The forge would have provided most of the metal objects for the Abbey including horse shoes, nails, cups, bowls, knives, forks and spoons. The site of the forge was examined by archaeologists and this recreation was built on top of the original site.
The Gateway
This Gateway was the main entrance to the Abbey complex. Look at the left hand side of the gateway you can see how thick the walls were. The complex of buildings which made up the Abbey was surrounded by walls as thick as the one you see there. This is because Abbeys were very powerful and also considered to have great wealth with stories of hidden treasure being quite common. Therefore many Abbey’s protected themselves from those who may have tried to steal these treasures by fortifying themselves!
Why do you think there are two gateways and why are they different sizes?
The gateway on the left was for people on horse back or people with wagons or in carriages, these were usually the richer people. Peasants and common folk used the door on the right as they were almost always on foot and so could pass through this entrance.
Stoney Bridge
This bridge, known locally as “Stoney Bridge” due to its' appearance, was the only access into the Abbey grounds other than the main gates. The Abbey was so large that it needed its own farm to provide the food the Canons needed. This farm was situated right next to the Abbey itself with the main buildings of the farm standing where the current roundabout is located at the southern end of the Crooked Mile (B194). The farm was responsible for providing grain from arable fields, fruit from the orchards, fresh milk and meat from livestock and fresh fish found in the large fishponds nearby. All of this would have been brought into the Abbey over the “Stoney Bridge”. King Harold (who fought and died in the Battle of Hastings, 1066) owned Waltham Abbey which means he may well have paid for the bridge to be built or even walked over it himself.
The Cloisters
The Canons of Waltham Abbey spent a large proportion of their day doing one of two things, either praying in the church of the Abbey or studying a wide variety of subjects in the Cloisters. This picture shows the entrance to the cloisters area which is all that remains today. The cloisters were set out around a small courtyard. Any Canons studying would sit in small sheltered cubicles around the edges of the courtyard. A vow of silence was always observed in the Cloisters and if anyone broke that vow they would be punished. Punishment could include being made to pray for their god’s forgiveness for a day in the church, going without food for a day or having to do extra chores around the Abbey (usually the most unpleasant chores as well!).