Visitors can hike around the picturesque remains of this 12th-century nunnery with stone walls.
Godstow Abbey was a Benedictine nunnery founded in 1133 by Edith of Winchester, a widow who had a vision telling her to build a place for God near Oxford. The abbey was dedicated in 1139 in the presence of King Stephen and several bishops, and received generous donations from the royal family and the nobility. The abbey became famous as the burial place of Rosamund Clifford, the mistress of King Henry II, who died in 1176. The abbey was suppressed in 1539 under the Second Act of Dissolution and fell into ruins. The abbey was located on an island in the River Thames and was patronized by many noble families in south-western England. The tomb of Rosamund Clifford was treated like a shrine by the nuns until Bishop Hugh of Lincoln ordered it to be removed from the high altar in 1191. The abbey was featured in several works of literature, such as Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure and Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials. The abbey ruins are now a popular tourist attraction and a site of historical interest. The remains of the church, the cloister, and the chapter house can still be seen. The abbey is also home to a colony of bats and a variety of wildflowers.
Really nice place to spend a few hours, along the Riverside, perfect for a picnic! I read that apparently Lewis Carroll brought his nieces here in the summers. The Abbey is nice, a bit unkempt for a site of significance but interesting all the same, would be nice if there was more information.
Beautiful place for a relaxing, romantic walk
I came upon the ruins unexpectedly just after sunrise at the beginning of a long hike, and found them absolutely beautiful, set beside the Thames and catching the first rays of the sun. A very evocative place. All that now stands is the shell of a small chapel, and an extensive outer wall.
Godstow Abbey across the Thames from The Trout Inn dates back to 1133. The Abbey has a rich history and is worth a little research. The building itself is not accessible but it marks the start of a wonderful walk along the Thames that can take you into the fascinating Oxford suburb of Jericho. All the land along the way has history dating back two or three millennia. The Thames has always been essential to the economy and inhabitants of this watery area of Oxfordshire.
When I went, 3.00pm on a Friday, it was blissfully quiet and I had the place to myself...... ...very peaceful
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Good for kids
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Godstow Abbey was a Benedictine nunnery founded in 1133 by Edith of Winchester, a widow who had a vision telling her to build a place for God near Oxford. The abbey was dedicated in 1139 in the presence of King Stephen and several bishops, and received generous donations from the royal family and the nobility. The abbey became famous as the burial place of Rosamund Clifford, the mistress of King Henry II, who died in 1176. The abbey was suppressed in 1539 under the Second Act of Dissolution and fell into ruins. The abbey was located on an island in the River Thames and was patronized by many noble families in south-western England. The tomb of Rosamund Clifford was treated like a shrine by the nuns until Bishop Hugh of Lincoln ordered it to be removed from the high altar in 1191. The abbey was featured in several works of literature, such as Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure and Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials. The abbey ruins are now a popular tourist attraction and a site of historical interest. The remains of the church, the cloister, and the chapter house can still be seen. The abbey is also home to a colony of bats and a variety of wildflowers.
Really nice place to spend a few hours, along the Riverside, perfect for a picnic! I read that apparently Lewis Carroll brought his nieces here in the summers. The Abbey is nice, a bit unkempt for a site of significance but interesting all the same, would be nice if there was more information.
Beautiful place for a relaxing, romantic walk
I came upon the ruins unexpectedly just after sunrise at the beginning of a long hike, and found them absolutely beautiful, set beside the Thames and catching the first rays of the sun. A very evocative place. All that now stands is the shell of a small chapel, and an extensive outer wall.
Godstow Abbey across the Thames from The Trout Inn dates back to 1133. The Abbey has a rich history and is worth a little research. The building itself is not accessible but it marks the start of a wonderful walk along the Thames that can take you into the fascinating Oxford suburb of Jericho. All the land along the way has history dating back two or three millennia. The Thames has always been essential to the economy and inhabitants of this watery area of Oxfordshire.
When I went, 3.00pm on a Friday, it was blissfully quiet and I had the place to myself...... ...very peaceful
