Prince Edward (later King Edward I) founded Vale Royal Abbey around 1270. Originally planned at Darnhall, the abbey was relocated to Whitegate in 1277 due to an unsatisfactory original site. Edward I envisioned housing 100 monks at the Abbey, the largest Cistercian monastery in Christian Europe. However, political instability during his reign disrupted the construction, leading to the loss of grants, masons, and builders. Ultimately, Vale Royal Abbey was closed in 1536 by Henry VIII during his dissolution of the monasteries campaign, before it could reach its intended grandeur.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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