Sawley Abbey Ruins

Sawley Abbey Ruins are the remains of a Cistercian Abbey founded in 1147 and dissolved in 1536. The structure is now in ruins, built from rubble with some remaining sandstone dressings. The walls of the transepts, which feature three square east chapels on each side, along with a very small nave—possibly shortened in the early 16th century—survive to various heights, with the tallest reaching approximately 10 metres. Only the lower courses of the chancel, which were widened and lengthened in the early 16th century by adding aisles, remain. The foundations or low walls of the conventual buildings are still visible, including the chapter house, the undercroft of the dorter, the rere-dorter, and the frater on the south side. On the west side of the cloister, there were the dorter and frater for the lay brethren, which were later partially converted into the Abbot's lodgings. At the north end of the west range, there is a fireplace with a segmental arch and a bread oven, possibly dating from after the Reformation. The site is designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.