St Mary’s Abbey is a substantial property in Colwich between Rugeley and Stafford. The early history of the property is obscure but the first house was built in 1767 as a shooting box. From 1820 a substantial new building was constructed in the Gothick style for Viscount Tamworth who died before completion. In 1836 it was purchased by a community of English Benedictine nuns and was their home until 2020 when the community became too small to continue. The community formed in 1652 in Paris based on an earlier community living in Cambria in 1623. Persecuted in the French Revolution the community had fled to England in 1795. At its largest there were 40 nuns here. At present the Lady Abbess and a chaplain remain to care for the property which is for sale. The community made many alterations over the nearly 200 years they were here but much of the Gothick house remains.
We start our tour, guided by Gerard Wilcox, with tea/coffee in one of the ground floor parlours. We shall then visit the chapel, a surprisingly large space made from the original entrance hall with 19C additions. There are stained glass windows designed by Pugin and other interesting architectural features. On the ground floor there are two large reception rooms with ornate plaster ceilings. One room has been adapted to form the nun’s Chapter House. Upstairs there are the principal bedrooms again with ornate plaster ceilings and many other smaller bedrooms.
Outside we shall see the south west front facing Cannock Chase and the nun’s cemetery behind the house which has a small mortuary chapel. There is a large 1970s building which provided accommodation for the nuns including small bedrooms (cells), a communal dining room and kitchen as well as the large library. Other buildings erected by the community at the back of the mansion have already been demolished. The property is now generally in poor condition but the heating is on to prevent damp penetration. It is for sale, but the chapel is still in use and Mass is said here regularly.
This is an opportunity to see what must one have been intended to be a major aristocratic mansion for Viscount Tamworth and is also a fascinating insight into a way of life that is passing. The property is large; there are still 16 acres which include lawns, paddocks, farm buildings and residential properties for estate workers. The furnishings were sold in 2020, including most of the library books but there is still much of interest to see in the former mansion. For a fuller description of the property see; St Mary's Abbey and boundary walls, Little Haywood, Staffordshire (britishlistedbuildings.co.uk)
Please inform Richard Totty at richard.totty4@gmail.com if you intend to come. There is ample parking. We are not charging in advance but suggest a donation of £5 per person made on the day.
Tea/coffee with biscuits and cake will be available before and after the tour. Overall our visit will last about two hours.
