Cockersand Abbey's Founding and Rise…

Join us as we delve into the fascinating history of Cockersand Abbey, from its origins as a small hospital to becoming one of the richest in Lancashire. Today, the only remaining relic from the abbey stands as a testament to its past.

The Premonstratensian Abbey of Cockersand, nestled in Cockerham, was founded in 1184 as a small hospital of the Premonstratensian order. After being refounded in 1190, it served as a Premonstratensian priory and was elevated to an abbey in 1192. Known as St. Mary's of the Marsh, the site was later drained for better cultivation. The abbey was the third richest in Lancashire at the time of its dissolution in 1539, acquired by John Kechyn in 1544.

The only significant relic from the abbey, still intact, is the vaulted chapter house built in 1230 and used as a family mausoleum by the Daltons of Thurnham Hall during the 18th and 19th centuries. The chapter house is a Grade I listed building and scheduled ancient monument. It is open to the public on special occasions like Heritage Open Days.

Two Roman statuettes were discovered near the abbey site in 1718, potentially indicating a Romano-British shrine nearby.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons

Cockersand Abbey's Founding and Rise: A Premonstratensian History

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