Grey Abbey
The ruins of this Cistercian Abbey church and living quarters are one of the best examples of Anglo-Norman religious architecture in Northern Ireland. Affreca, daughter of the King of Man and wife of John de Courcy, the Anglo-Norman invader of East Ulster, founded the abbey in 1193.
The Abbey is set in the beautiful landscaped parkland of 18th century Rosemount House, but visitors should note that these grounds are private. However, you are welcome to wander among the ruins and the lawns, where you are also allowed take picnics.
There are other sites linked with John de Courcy, the most important of which are:
- Cathedral Hill
- Mound of Down
- Carrickfergus Castle
- Dundrum Castle
- Inch Abbey
| Choose a Virtual Tour: | Inside | Outside |
Greyabbey
Co. Down
BT22 2NQ
Tel: (028) 9181 1491
Fax: (028) 9054 6552
Opening Times:
Easter to end September: 10am to 6pm daily
October to Easter: 12pm to 4pm Sundays only
Pedestrian and wheelchair access from car park to visitor centre, herb garden and abbey church.
There is informal car parking at the monument.
Disabled Access:
Gravel paths and grass areas may make parts of the site difficult or inaccessible for some visitors.
Please call (028) 9181 1491 for more information.
- Guided tours available
- Visitor centre
- Exhibition about monastic life
- Toilets / disabled toilets
- Picnic area
- Parking
These splendid ruins of a Cistercian Abbey church and outer buildings are the finest example 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 colonized by Cistercian monks from Cumbria. The French background of the Cistercian Order and the English origins of Grey Abbey resulted in 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. One of the great features of Grey Abbey today is a carefully recreated Herb Garden, containing over fifty varieties of medicinal plants and herbs that you are free to stroll through.
Curriculum Topic Links
This site is an excellent example of Norman architecture and Medieval Monastery life. It would make an ideal site investigation for those studying the Normans at Key Stage 3 (investigate and evaluate the spiritual beliefs and legacy of civilisations) in conjunction with other sites in the area such as Inch Abbey and Dundrum Castle. For those students studying medieval medicine at GCSE it would provide an excellent visualisation of monastery life.
Resources suitable for use at this site
| Monastic Life at Grey Abbey | Discover Grey Abbey's herbal secrets and much more! | 05/06/2010 |
| Monastic Life at Grey Abbey | Experience the lives of the Monks who built Grey Abbey! | 12/06/2010 |
| Monastic Life at Grey Abbey | Experience the lives of the Monks who built Grey Abbey! | 19/06/2010 |
