Lileshall Abbey

The extensive, evocative ruins of Lilleshal abbey were once a twelfth and thirteenth-century medieval monastery.The remains of the holy site and other large domestic buildings can still be seen. Other buildings such as a lady chapel and canon's dormitory is known to have existed on the site and is thought to have been situated to the north-east of the church. The abbey was enclosed by a large precinct wall, of which little survives today.

It is thought Richard de Belmeis who settled a group of Arrouasian canons at the site in around 1148 founded Lilleshall Abbey. Records show the abbey gained much of its income from farmland, two water mills, a small collection of properties in Shrewsbury and tolls made from the use of the Atcham Bridge over the River Severn. Following the civil war the abbey seems to have been left in a ruined state of decay. In 1950 the abbey came into the ownership of the Office of Works and later was repaired before coming into the care of English Heritage, who continue to look after the site to this day.

Although the site has limited facilities, it is certainly a picturesque location and can be visited between the 1st of April and the 30th of September. There is ample off street parking.