Holm Cultram Abbey, England
Stained Glass window at Holm Cultram Abbey This evening, I am posting information on Holm Cultram Abbey in the village of Abbey Town, North Cumbria. Abbey Town is close to the Solway Coast, S.W. of Carlisle in N.W. England. Founded by (Roman Catholic) Cistercian monks in 1150, the buildings survived the 1540 Dissolution because of the refuge they provided to the local population during turbulent times, including attacks from the Scots. The building which remains is the heavily restored and repaired Abbey Church which is now the local Parish Church within the (Protestant) Anglican Communion. Holm Cultram was founded by monks from Melrose Abbey in Scotland who may well have been attracted by the local resources which included rich farmlands, fishing, salt extraction and quarrying. In medieval times monks were expert at managing the local economy and the Abbey accumulated wealth and prestige through supply of wool and farming. Unfortunately, Holm Cultram was s...