furness family history society

FURNESS ABBEY

Furness Abbey stands in the Vale of the Deadly Nightshade, between Barrow and Dalton. When built it was second only in size to Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire. A stream runs though the Abbey grounds and peace and serenity reign. Take the path along the bank of the stream and you will come to Bow Bridge still standing after all these years.

Founded in 1123 by Stephen who later became King Stephen of England, it is built of red sandstone (there was a quarry just across the road) . When first built the wall were all washed white, one can imagine just how beautiful it must have been when it was a very rich working monastery. The monks
developed the harbour on Walney to promote its trade in wool and iron ore and built the castle on Peil Island to help with it’s protection. William Wordsworth wrote about Furness Abbey in his Prelude of 1805.

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