Titchfield Abbey, Titchfield, Hampshire

Photographs by Malcolm Low

The ruins of a 13th-century Premonstratensian abbey built by the Bishop of Winchester Peter des Roches who founded several religious houses which included Netley Abbey in Hampshire. The inhabitants of the Abbey were canons regular of the Premonstratensian Order, they were also knows as ‘white canons’ from the colour of their robes, they lived in the community like Monks following the Rule of St. Augustine, while engaging in a life of study and prayer within the monastery they also worked as a pastoral mission, actively ministering to the spiritual needs of the people.

The first canons, led by Abbot Richard, arrived in 1222 from Halesowen Abbey in Worcestershire. Titchfield was to maintain a strong connection with its mother house at Halesowen throughout its existence as a monastery. Bishop Peter held one of the richest bishoprics in the mediaeval church and so was in a position to be generous in the endowment of his new abbey. He not only gave Titchfield itself but also extensive lands dotted around Hampshire, and this property was expanded by major grants from local aristocrats and King Henry III himself (who also granted the monastery important legal privileges in 1231), with the result that Titchfield was placed on a firm financial footing from the beginning.

A PDF of further photographs of Titchfield Abbey by Malcolm Low can be downloaded, please click on

For more historical information of the Abbey Ruins the website click here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titchfield_Abbey