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Pocket
Histories
of
Redditch
-
Bordesley
Abbey
Designed
and
Produced
by
Anthony
Green
2015
The
Cistercian
Monks
create
a
monastery
in
the
Arrow
Valley
Pocket
Histories
of
Redditch
-
Bordesley
Abbey
Designed
and
Produced
by
Anthony
Green
2015
In
1098,
the
abbot
of
the
Benedictine
Abbey
of
Molesme,
in
France,
dissatisfied
with
the
lapse
of
the
order
from
the
true
rules
of
St
Benedict,
led
twenty-one
of
his
monks
into
the
area
of
Citeaux
to
establish
a
new
monastery.
This
new
community
introduced
the
idea
of
lay
brothers
being
accepted
as
full
members
of
the
monastic
family,
making
it
possible
for
the
monks
to
be
free
to
follow
all
the
demands
of
the
Benedictine
Rule.
In
1112
Bernard
of
Fontaines
arrived
with
thirty
relatives
in
tow
and
began
the
saga
of
Citeaux.
Before
Bernard
died
in
1153
he
had
founded
the
great
Abbey
of
Clairvaux
and
had
sent
forth
men
to
start
sixty-five
other
abbeys,
his
brother
abbots
started
another
235,
and
set
up
a
system
which
respected
the
autonomy
of
each
house
but
assured
its
fidelity.
Cistercian
Monks
-
A
Return
to
Basics
Pocket
Histories
of
Redditch
-
Bordesley
Abbey
Designed
and
Produced
by
Anthony
Green
2015
In
the
12th
Century,
the
Cistercian
order
began
a
period
of
expansion
and,
in
November
1128,
with
the
aid
of
William
Giffard,
Bishop
of
Winchester,
Waverly
Abbey
was
founded
in
Surrey,
England.
From
Waverley
,
a
further
five
houses
were
founded
from
before
1152,
including
the
monastery
at
Bordesley.
The
charter
for
the
creation
of
Bordesley
Abbey
was
given
in
1138
by
Empress
Matilda.
This
was
during
the
‘civil
war’
between
Matilda
and
Stephen,
both
grandchildren
of
William
the
Conqueror.
Work
began
on
the
Abbey
in
1140
and,
as
the
valley
was
a
difficult
marshy
area,
the
first
requirement
was
to
drain
the
area.
The
monks
developed
a
complex
drainage
system
which
included
‘canalising’
the
River
Arrow,
and
it’s
tributaries,
away
from
the
intended
site
for
the
monastery
buildings.
At
first,
temporary
wooden
buildings
were
constructed,
and
this
has
been
verified
by
excavations
on
the
site.
However,
within
a
few
years,
these
were
replaced
by
stone
buildings.
Bordesley
Abbey
-
the
Early
Years
Monks
at
Gate
to
Abbey
(JM
Woodward)
Pocket
Histories
of
Redditch
-
Bordesley
Abbey
Designed
and
Produced
by
Anthony
Green
2015
The
Cistercians
specialised
in
building
their
monasteries
in
difficult
areas
and
specialised
in
river
flood
planes.
As
a
result
they
became
experts
in
water
management
and
were
one
of
the
earliest
exponents
of
the
use
of
water
for
industrial
use.
At
Bordesley,
mills
and
workshops
have
been
found
in
the
east
end
of
the
precinct
sited
next
to
a
triangular
mill-pond.
The
first
mill
building
was
built
in
1174-76,
but
this
caught
fire
and
a
replacement
mill
was
built
in
about
1187.
This
remained
for
about
200
years,
with
modifications
and
improvements,
until
it
was
abandoned
around
1370-1400.
Unlike
many
mills
used
at
this
time,
the
mill
at
Bordesley
Abbey
was
used
for
metal
working.
Bordesley
Abbey
mill:
reconstruction
of
the
period
4
mill.
(Drawn
by
Brian
Williams
©
Bordesley
Abbey
Project
)
The
water
power
was
used
to
drive
trip
hammers
and
bellows
and
there
would
have
been
a
forge
on
the
site.
This
is
one
of
the
earliest
existing
water
powered
metal
working
Medieval
water
mill
found
in
the
U.K.
Industrial
Innovation
Pocket
Histories
of
Redditch
-
Bordesley
Abbey
Designed
and
Produced
by
Anthony
Green
2015
The
Abbey
was
the
hub
of
a
landed
estate.
It
was
given
land
by
important
landowners
and
the
monks
created
farms
known
as
‘granges’
throughout
Worcestershire,
Warwickshire
and
Gloucestershire.
Bordesley
owned
around
20
granges
which
were
worked
by
lay
brothers
and
labourers.
The
small
community
which
became
known
as
Redditch
(the
area
was
on
red
marl,
so
the
ditches
appeared
to
be
red
‘Red-Dyche’)
was
created
at
this
time
to
support
the
monastery
and
included
stonemasons
to
continue
the
ongoing
rebuild
of
the
monastery
buildings.
Bordesley
was
a
large
scale
producer
of
wool,
which
was
a
major
‘cash
crop’
at
this
time,
and
in
the
early
14th
century,
the
flock
would
have
numbered
3,000
sheep
or
more.
However,
in
about
1350-1400
a
major
change
in
the
community
took
place
with
about
one
third
of
the
area
being
abandoned.
This
was
probably
associated
with
the
‘Black
Death’
of
1348,
which
considerably
reduced
the
labour
force
and
effectively
ended
‘serfdom’
in
England.
Dissolution
1338
(Image
courtesy
Forge
Mill
Museum
and
Bordesley
Abbey
Visitor
Centre)
The
Abbey
survived
until
1538,
when
Henry
VIII,
as
part
of
his
campaign
to
reduce
the
power
of
the
church,
‘dissolved’
the
monasteries
and
seized
their
assets.
Politically,
he
did
not
have
any
serious
opposition
from
the
population
as,
by
this
time,
even
the
Cistercians
had
become
rich
and
debauched.
From
Wealth
to
Dissolution
Pocket
Histories
of
Redditch
-
Bordesley
Abbey
Designed
and
Produced
by
Anthony
Green
2015
The
site
as
you
can
see
it
today
The
site
of
St
Stephen’s
Chapel
has
the
outline
of
the
chapel
identified
and
numerous
gravestones
from
the
time.
Excavated
remains
of
main
buildings
which
are
available
for
view.
There
is
an
identification
panel
with
a
spoken
introduction
to
each
aspect
of
the
site.
The
River
Arrow
was
canalised
by
the
monks
over
a
distance
of
a
third
of
a
mile.
The
site
of
the
triangular
medieval
mill
pool
is
clearly
visible
in
the
landscape
At
the
highest
point,
there
is
an
attractive
viewpoint
with
an
identification
board.
After
the
canalisation
of
River
Arrow,
it
is
allowed
to
return
to
it’s
original
route.
There
is
an
attractive
walking
route
which
follows
the
river
and
returns
to
the
Abbey
Visitor
Centre.
A
walk
through
the
Abbey
Site
can
be
found
on
the
www.redditchwalks.org.uk
(walk
A1)
web
site..
The
monks
created
fish
pools
for
fresh
fish.
These
are
still
in
place
and
are
an
ideal
habitat
for
water
birds.
The
Bordesley
Abbey
Visitor
Centre
has
an
exhibition
of
artifacts
from
the
excavations
and
a
history
of
the
abbey.
Plan
of
Bordesley
Abbey
Site
-
Google
Earth
Please
run
over
Red
Markers
for
Information
Pocket
Histories
of
Redditch
-
Bordesley
Abbey
Designed
and
Produced
by
Anthony
Green
2015
Designed
and
produced
by
Anthony
Green
with
acknowledgements
to
Forge
Mill
Needle
Museum
and
Bordesley
Abbey
Visitor
Centre,
Redditch,
B98
8HY
www.forgemill.org.uk
Bordesley
Abbey
the
Monastery
in
the
Valley