Shrewsbury Abbey

LoginSave

All that remains of a vast, cruciform Benedictine monastery founded in 1083 is the lovely red-sandstone Shrewsbury Abbey. Twice used for meetings of the English Parliament, the abbey church lost its spire and two wings when the monastery was dissolved in 1540. It sustained further damage in 1826 when engineer Thomas Telford ran the London–Holyhead road right through the grounds. Nevertheless, you can still see some impressive Norman, Early English and Victorian features, including an exceptional 14th-century west window.

It's famous as the setting for Ellis Peters' historical murder-mystery novels, Chronicles of Brother Cadfael.

Details of free weekly summertime concerts are posted on its website.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Erddig

    Erddig

    24.63 MILES

    For a glimpse of the life of the British upper class in the 18th and 19th centuries, and the 'upstairs-downstairs' social hierarchy of their bygone world,…

  • Powis Castle

    Powis Castle

    17.98 MILES

    Surrounded by magnificent gardens, the redbrick Powis Castle was originally constructed in the 13th century by Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn, prince of Powys,…

  • Cosford Royal Air Force Museum

    Cosford Royal Air Force Museum

    18.48 MILES

    This famous aerospace museum 13 miles east of Ironbridge is run by the Royal Air Force, whose pilots steered many of these winged wonders across the skies…

  • Iron Bridge

    Iron Bridge

    12.21 MILES

    The arching Iron Bridge, which gives the area its name, was built to flaunt the new technology invented by the pioneering Darby family. At the time of its…

  • Kerry Vale Vineyard

    Kerry Vale Vineyard

    19.71 MILES

    More than 6000 vines are now planted over 2.4 hectares of the former Pentreheyling Roman Fort, where pottery and metalwork have been uncovered and are…

  • Museum of the Gorge

    Museum of the Gorge

    11.88 MILES

    An ideal place to kick off your Ironbridge Gorge visit is the Museum of the Gorge. Occupying a Gothic riverside warehouse, it offers an overview of the…

  • Plas Newydd

    Plas Newydd

    25.1 MILES

    The 18th-century home of the Ladies of Llangollen (Irish aristocrat Lady Eleanor Butler and her companion, Sarah Ponsonby), Plas Newydd is an atmospheric…

View more attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Shrewsbury Prison

0.33 MILES

Built in 1793, this was a working prison as recently as 2013. Today tours are led by former prison guards: when you arrive, you're 'processed' as a…

2. St Mary's Church

0.33 MILES

The fabulous interior of this tall-spired medieval church contains an impressive collection of stained glass, including a 1340 window depicting the Tree…

3. St Alkmund's Church

0.34 MILES

Dating from 912, St Alkmund's Church today is part medieval and part Georgian.

4. Shrewsbury Castle

0.34 MILES

Hewn from flaking red Shropshire sandstone, the town castle contains the Shropshire Regimental Museum. There are fine views from Laura's Tower and the…

5. Charles Darwin Statue

0.36 MILES

The town's most famous son, naturalist Charles Darwin, was born in the Mount in Shrewsbury's Frankwell area in 1809. He's commemorated by a statue outside…

6. Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery

0.44 MILES

Diverse exhibits at Shrewsbury's town museum cover everything from Roman treasures to Shropshire gold, including the Bronze Age Perry Bracelet. Its…

7. Attingham Park

3.56 MILES

Built in imposing neoclassical style in 1785, Attingham Park looks like something straight out of a period drama with its grand columned facade, manicured…

8. Snailbeach

10 MILES

The former lead- and silver-mining village of Snailbeach is littered with intriguing, rusting machinery relics. You can download a self-guided trail from…