romsey abbey

Wonderful Norman architecture. Very informative printed information and Abbey steward very knowledgeable. Thorougly enjoyed he Sunday service.

Romsey as a town is a lovely place and if in the area you should take the time to visit the lovely Norman Abbey.It is well kept and very quaint and puts a lot of cathedrals to shame.A lovely Abbey - a must visit if in the area

Have watched many wedding there nice location its near the shops if you like horse and carriages and looking at old fashioned wedding cars great place on a sunny Satuday

We are very fortunate in England to not only have so many fine cathedrals but also several Minsters and Abbey churches which are almost as splendid. I feel that Romsey Abbey is somewhat overshadowed by its proximity to the better known cathedrals of Winchester and Salisbury. Romsey Abbey is a splendid sight with its wonderful Norman carvings, paintings, tapestries, statues, etc. There is a very useful free leaflet "Discovering Romsey Abbey" which will help you get the most out of your visit. Admission is free although donations are requested. I doubt if Romsey Abbey is ever as crowded as the better known cathedrals so all the more reason to visit this gem.

A large Norman/Early English abbey church, now a parish church, with some Saxon remains. The nave is particularly fine and the choir and east end chapels well worth seeing. There are also a number of interesting tombs, including a monument to a member of the crew of the Titanic and the tomb of Earl Mountbatten of Burma.

Thank you for alerting us to this issue. Please accept our sincere apologies. Our aim is for all visitors to enjoy their visit and to receive a warm welcome. Please can we assure you that there is no charge for either looking round the Abbey or taking photos. We encourage visitors to take photos so they have lasting images of the beauty of the Abbey. We do, however, suggest a possible donation towards the upkeep of the Abbey as it costs approx. £1000 per day to keep the Abbey open. Currently the suggested donation is £3 per visitor and £2 extra if you wish to take photographs.We look forward to welcoming you to the Abbey in future.

We were met by a couple of abbey staff on entry who gave us a 60 second 'what to see around the building' and then we were free to explore on our own. Stunning architecture, captivating history and some very arresting modern colours in penents and on the alter cloth. The tomb of Louis Mountbatten is sobering. So, all in all, a very good visit

Although this was my third visit, I was still taken back by this stunningly large parish church. It's the contrast between the semi brutal norman architecture and the elegant light stone that gets you. Two welcoming wardens greet you on arrival. This is a masterpiece so give generously when you leave

Intriguing building as its varied history is evident in the stonework - lovely Norman arches dissolving into English (pointed) arches towards the west window. A leaflet explaining the timeline of the building works would be appreciated,Lovely place for concerts and Christmas carol services, of which we have attended more than one this December.

The music added such a soul to my visit. The photograph display of Romsey's part in the WW1 supply of WAR HORSES,etc. The history of this very old Abbey dates from the 907..900 years of this great Norman Church

No admission charge and helpful attendants made our visit well worthwhile ..lots of interesting items ..

I never tire of visiting Romsey Abbey as there always is something I seemed to have missed seeing. However, what is so impressive along with the beauty of the building is the friendliness of the team of volunteers who keep this Abbey so beautifully clean and orderly. They so obviously enjoy their tasks and are happy to speak with all the visitors providing whatever information that may be required. It is my dream one day to attend a service at this beautiful place.

This large parish church is well- maintained and has a. Ery welcoming atmosphere. The staff and volunteers are very helpful. There is a small .but comprehensive gift shop, plenty of places to light a candle or pray and the tomb of Earl Mountbatten of Burma.Much more than an average parish church.

Since 903 there has been a Christian site in Romsey, despite the efforts of the Viking hordes, the political reaction to the divorce of Henry VIII, and Cromwell's troops. It started with the Saxon king Elfaeda, who built a Benedictine Nunnery for his sister (who naturally became the Abbess). Ethelflaeda whose trait for reciting Psalms in the nude, whilst standing in the cold waters of the nearby river Test, gave her a sainthood, and probably pneumonia. The Norman rebuilt the Abbey with its slightly squat style - as seen from the outside - but internally it is magnificent, atmospheric and awe inspiring. Huge columns supported by Norman / Early English arches.The abbey was spared the fate of many other large religious building during the Dissolution of the Abbeys as it was part of a local church and was bought by four very wealthy citizens of the little town of Romsey. It is a beautiful building, and a living place of worship, with exceptional helpful Abbey Stewards, resplendent in Red gowns. These unpaid volunteers really are an asset , and we had a lovely conversation with one lady, about the Abbey, and its history - it really helped our visit.There is the simple black gravestone of Louis Mountbatten buried in the floor of the Chapel of St Nicholas. - unusually he is buried north to south, rather than the traditional east to west. Bizarrely, just a few yards away is a very rustic, and simple grave. In-bedded into the floor of the transept is a C17th howler. As the carved inscription in the stone has a little problem with the spacing, as the surname Warren shows. With a little forethought the naive amateur stonemason might have started a bit closer to the left hand side, and thereby, avoided the surname "Warren" being split over two lines;and of course, it has remained so, since the 1660s, - but it all adds to the charm of the abbey.Such a good place to wander around, and so much to take in.Far more inviting, and certainly more Inspiring than the hectic Cathedral with tall spire some 25 miles to the north west.

Helpful hosts, a good brochure and a pleasant aspect define Romsey. We lucked into being there when parishioners were decorating for harvest festival and felt very welcome.