Outer Gatehouse Beaulieu
Beaulieu’s recorded history starts with the creation of Beaulieu Abbey, for it was around the Abbey that the village clustered. Founded in 1204 on land given by King John, Beaulieu Abbey was built for Cistercian monks whose order originated in France in 1098. Construction took over 40 years to complete - the dedication was in 1246, long after John’s death, in the presence of his son, Henry III, the new king.
But for the monks, Beaulieu Abbey life was to come to an abrupt end in 1538 when Henry VIII brought major religious houses into private ownership. Beaulieu Abbey passed by sale to Sir Thomas Wriothesley, later to become 1st Earl of Southampton, and many of the buildings, including the Abbey church, were demolished - stones and lead from the Abbey were re-used in the construction of Calshot Castle and Hurst Castle.
The inner Great Gatehouse, however, was converted, extended and rebuilt to become Palace House, now the home of Lord and Lady Montagu; whilst the Choir Monks’ Refectory became Beaulieu’s parish church.
(A similar sequence of events was mirrored throughout much of the country - acquisition of monastic sites by members of the king's court, Dissolution officials and the nouveau riche; almost immediate demolition, at least in part, to provide profit from the sale of building materials and probably also to ensure no return to religious communities; and conversion of elements of the remains to secular mansions).
The Outer Gatehouse, a structure dating back to the 14th century, can still be seen, however, beside the road a little to the north of Beaulieu Mill - it is close to where the road crosses the river.
Outer Gatehouse Beaulieu
Beaulieu’s recorded history starts with the creation of Beaulieu Abbey, for it was around the Abbey that the village clustered. Founded in 1204 on land given by King John, Beaulieu Abbey was built for Cistercian monks whose order originated in France in 1098. Construction took over 40 years to complete - the dedication was in 1246, long after John’s death, in the presence of his son, Henry III, the new king.
But for the monks, Beaulieu Abbey life was to come to an abrupt end in 1538 when Henry VIII brought major religious houses into private ownership. Beaulieu Abbey passed by sale to Sir Thomas Wriothesley, later to become 1st Earl of Southampton, and many of the buildings, including the Abbey church, were demolished - stones and lead from the Abbey were re-used in the construction of Calshot Castle and Hurst Castle.
The inner Great Gatehouse, however, was converted, extended and rebuilt to become Palace House, now the home of Lord and Lady Montagu; whilst the Choir Monks’ Refectory became Beaulieu’s parish church.
(A similar sequence of events was mirrored throughout much of the country - acquisition of monastic sites by members of the king's court, Dissolution officials and the nouveau riche; almost immediate demolition, at least in part, to provide profit from the sale of building materials and probably also to ensure no return to religious communities; and conversion of elements of the remains to secular mansions).
The Outer Gatehouse, a structure dating back to the 14th century, can still be seen, however, beside the road a little to the north of Beaulieu Mill - it is close to where the road crosses the river.