Meaux Abbey

Meaux Abbey was a Cistercian monastery founded in 1151 by William le Gros, Earl of Albemarle, near Beverley in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The abbey stood on land later bought by Edward I to help build Kingston upon Hull. Its history was recorded in the Chronica Monasterii de Melsa, written in 1388 by Thomas Burton, the abbey’s bursar and later abbot. The abbey was closed in 1539 during Henry VIII’s suppression of monasteries. Its stones were taken to reinforce Hull’s defences, leaving only foundations behind. The site remains a Scheduled Ancient Monument, protected for its historical importance. Thomas Burton’s chronicle offers a detailed account of the abbey’s life from its foundation to 1396. The work was edited in the 19th century by Edward Bond, using original manuscripts once held by Sir Thomas Phillipps. The text remains a key source for medieval monastic studies. Scholars still consult it for insights into Cistercian life and Yorkshire’s history. Visitors find grassy mounds marking the abbey’s layout, with clear traces of its church and cloister. The quiet fields around Beverley provide a peaceful setting for exploring the ruins. A low stone wall outlines part of the nave’s footprint. The site offers little shade, so a visit in cooler weather is best. The open ground makes it easy to imagine the abbey’s former scale. The land slopes gently toward the River Hull, adding to the scene’s quiet charm.