Kingswood Abbey

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Kingswood Abbey was a Cistercian abbey, located in the village of Kingswood near Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, England. Kingswood Abbey was founded in the year 1169 by William of Berkeley in accordance with the wishes of his uncle, Roger II of Berkeley, and colonised from the Cistercian house at Tintern.(Archives Hub, 2006) All that survives today is the 16th century gatehouse, which is under the care of English Heritage. Calcot Manor to the north was originally an annex of Kingswood Abbey, which was thought to be founded when monks needed refuge from frequent floods at Kingswood. The original Calcot datestone is extant within the porch of the tithe barn interior and reads: "ANNOGRE MOCC HENRICI ABBATIS XXIX FAI DOM H EDIFICATA", verifying founding by Abbot Henry in the year 1300 during the period of King Edward I. Other vicinity medieval buildings include Malmsbury Abbey and Beverston Castle.

The original charters of the Kingswood Abbey are extant and last went on sale at Sothebys in the year 1945.(Austin,1944)

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