Grey Abbey
12th Century Abbey
Grey Abbey is located in Church Street, Greyabbey.
These splendid ruins of a Cistercian Abbey Church and conventual buildings are the finest examples of Anglo-Norman ecclesiastical architecture in Northern Ireland. Affreca, daughter of the King of Man and wife of John de Courcy, Anglo-Norman invader of East Ulster, founded the Abbey in 1193. The Abbey was established by Cisterican monks from Cumbria. Grey Abbey church is an elegant Gothic building with tall pointed lancet windows, the first truly Gothic structure in Ireland.
The monks had great knowledge of plants and made use of them in their practice of medicine for both animals and men. One of the features of Grey Abbey today is a carefully recreated physic garden, containing over fifty varieties of medicinal plants and herbs.
After the Reformation, the abbey lands were given to the Montgomery family who still live there. The abbey grounds were part of the fine 18th Century parkland around the estate.
Facilities:
- Guided Tours Available
- Medieval Herb Garden
- Visitor Centre and Exhibition
- Toilets/Disabled Toilets
- Picnic Area
- Parking
Access:
| October - March Open Saturday and Sunday |
|
|---|---|
| Saturday | 10am - 4pm |
| Sunday | 2pm - 4pm |
| April - September Closed on Mondays |
|
| Tuesday - Saturday | 10am - 7pm |
| Sunday | 2pm - 7pm |
Admission Free
(Children under 16 years must be accompanied by an adult)
Customer Contact: (028) 9181 1491
Contact:
Environment and Heritage ServiceCommonwealth House
35 Castle Street
Belfast
BT1 1GU
Tel: (028) 9054 6754
Fax: (028) 9054 6516
Email: ehsinfo@doeni.gov.uk
Website: www.ehsni.gov.uk
