Alton Abbey

Alton Abbey is an Anglican Benedictine monastery (founded in 1895) in the village of Beech, near Alton, Hampshire, England. The abbey is not far from one of Hampshire's highest points, King's Hill (218 m).The community was founded by the Revd Charles Plomer Hopkins in 1884, as the Society of Saint Paul, in Rangoon (Burma) and Culcutta (India) to work with destitute or distressed merchant seafarers and their chaplains. The first house was opened in 1894 in Barry Dock, South Wales (now closed) to continue this work.A quieter house was needed and the site in Beech was acquired in 1895. This was initially used to care for retired or ill seamen in temporary wood and metal buildings. The current buildings were designed by Sir Charles Nicholson, using Tintern Abbey as a model.The first monks did much of the construction using local flint, including a flint and brick Gatehouse (1901). The Abbey church, designed by John Cyril Hawes (flint and brick, built 1901-07), is dedicated to "Our Lady and Saint John". Having observed the Rule of St Benedict from 1893 the community formally adopted it on 28 January 1981.In 1989 another charity undertook the society's work with seafarers. The community now runs retreats and courses for the public in guest rooms.Cit. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alton_AbbeyA more extensive version of the Abbey's history can be found on its official website at altonabbey.com/history-of-alton-abbeyComing from Beech towards Winchester (i.e. travelling in a south-westerly direction) the Abbey is at the top of a climb with gradients from 5% to 13%, with the steepest part just before a right bend that conceals the Abbey to the right.