Barlings Abbey

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Barlings Abbey, Lincolnshire, was a Premonstratensian monastery founded in 1154 by Ralph de Haye,^[1] son of the constable of Lincoln Castle, and lord of Burwell and Carlton. It was first established at Barlings Grange but was soon moved to its present site. By the mid-14th century the canons are known to have been in considerable financial trouble and even by 1412 when there were twenty-seven in residence, they were maintained with difficulty due to continued poverty and debt. By 1497 the situation had improved with the abbot praised for his administration and the monastery remarked to be in a good state. In 1537, during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the abbey became involved in the uprisings against this act and the abbot, Matthew Mackarel, and six of the canons were subsequently executed. The abbey was closed and the remainder of the canons expelled with little compensation due to the activities of their condemned brethren, with the property then passing to the Duke of Suffolk.

[edit] Post-Dissolution

Sections of the cloister range stood until 1730 as did the impressive central tower of the church which finally collapsed in 1757. Its appearance was recorded in an engraving by Samuel Buck in 1726. Now only earthworks and one large chunk of nave walling remain and are accessible to the public.