Beaulieu

Abbey Lands: The Abbey Precinct

The rule of the Cistercian Order stated that even 'the stables of the horses must be placed within the circuit of our abbeys'. The area enclosed by the walls of Beaulieu Abbey was about 55 acres in all, and included the main Abb ey buildings, management areas, industrial and agricultural workshops and guest houses within the Abbey's protection.

Any representation of the Abbey's industrial topography has to be conjectural, but the Account Book does give a comprehensive record of the activities which took place. The industries were organised into workshops. One made parchment in four different grades from hides. The skinner too, used hides to make hoods and blank ets for the monks. Close to water were the fulling mill and the tannery, the tanner preparing his hides by steeping them in water containing tannin. The corn mill was another using water-power. Adjacent to the entrance were the stables, saddlery and black smith's forge.

All visitors entered the Abbey through the Outer Gatehouse. Here, the porter dispensed alms to the poor in the form of food, clothing and fuel. Visitors were lodged in guest-houses according to their status. To the north of the Church are the remains of a building popularly known as the 'Wine Press'. It is unlikely to have been used for this purpose, and excavations suggest that it may have been one of the guest houses or abbot's quarters.