Guidebook:thornton Abbey
Founded by the powerful magnate William le Gros in 1139, Thornton Abbey became one of the richest Augustinian monasteries in England. Its splendid 14th-century gatehouse reflects its enormous wealth and stands as one of the largest monastic gatehouses in the country. Beyond it lie the remains of the abbey church and cloister buildings, including the elegant octagonal chapter house begun in the late 13th century. Paperback.56pp. Pub date: May 2010