HAUGHMOND ABBEY,
Three miles north-east of the town, is approached from the Old Heath, by a road full of picturesque beauty. The vale is watered by the Severn, while swelling hills fill up the distance.
This monastery was founded in the year 1100 by William Fitz Alan, for canons regular of St. Augustine, and is situated on the side of a gentle eminence. The ruins form a most imposing object, and are of sufficient consequence to attract the steps of the pedestrian. Of the Abbey church few remains exist. The door which opened into the cloister is an elegant specimen of anglo-norman architecture.
The Chapter House is almost in a perfect state of preservation: the front parallel with the cloister consists of a fine entrance through a circular arch, with a window in the same style on each side, divided into small lights. The shafts of these arches have canopied niches containing mutilated statues; the angel Gabriel, St. Catharine, and St. John may yet be distinguished.
The Abbott’s Lodging is in part standing, being beyond the cloister and refectory southward. There is likewise the shell of a noble hall, having very early mullioned windows, and a very large one at the west end, the tracery of which is destroyed. At the extremity of this was the great chamber, lighted by a beautiful bow window (probably a later addition), and divided into an upper and lower story.
On the north side of the Chapter House are two monumental stones: the largest indicates the death of John Fitz Alan, Lord of Clun, great-grandson of William, the founder of the monastery, and the least that of his wife Isabel, daughter of Roger Mortimer, Lord of Wigmore.
The revenues of this Abbey at the dissolution were, according to Speed, £294. 12s. 9d. The buildings were sold, and converted into a spacious mansion. Haughmond demesne comprises about 1100 acres, within which is situated the castellated Mansion of Sundorne, the property of Mrs. Corbet.
South-east, clothed with masses of woody verdure, is