“There is an Abbey, Launde… in the heart of England.

The air is always sweet there, and it’s quiet.

A little heaven here on earth…”

At Launde Abbey, we’re proud to be the custodians of a place steeped in history, especially during the Tudor period, when the Abbey became part of the story of Thomas Cromwell. With the recent interest in Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall series, many of our visitors have asked about our connection to Cromwell and his remarkable life. 

The Early History of Launde Abbey

Launde Abbey was founded as an Augustinian priory in 1119 by Richard Basset, a royal official under King Henry I. For over 400 years, it was home to a religious community that lived and worshipped here. One of the last surviving parts of the original priory is the stunning Chapel, which remains at the heart of Launde Abbey today.

The Chapel is available to residential retreat guests, those attending a day event, or members of our Companions community, offering them a sacred and historic space to reflect and pray. For visitors coming to enjoy the café and grounds, you’re very welcome to explore the surrounding gardens and soak in the beauty of the Abbey’s peaceful environment.

Thomas Cromwell and Launde Abbey

During the Dissolution of the Monasteries, orchestrated by King Henry VIII and his chief minister, Thomas Cromwell, Launde Abbey’s monastic life came to an end. It was more than just another priory on Cromwell’s list – It was special to him.

In fact, Cromwell claimed Launde Abbey for himself and famously called it his “little heaven on earth.” It was a place he dreamed of retiring to, imagining a peaceful escape from the turmoil of court life. If you’ve read Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall series or watched the BBC adaptation, you’ll recognize the significance of this dream.

Here’s the quote in the final scene of Cromwell’s life in the Wolf Hall series:

“There is an Abbey, Launde… in the heart of England.

The air is always sweet there, and it’s quiet.

A little heaven here on earth…”

We couldn’t agree more.

Unfortunately, Cromwell never saw his plans come to fruition. In 1540, just months after falling from King Henry’s favour, he was executed.

Gregory Cromwell at Launde Abbey

After Thomas Cromwell’s death, Launde Abbey was inherited by his son, Gregory Cromwell. Gregory, married to Elizabeth Seymour (Jane Seymour’s sister and Henry VIII’s sister-in-law), was a significant figure in his own right. Together, they resided at Launde Abbey, where they established themselves as part of the local gentry.

Gregory oversaw the estate, ensuring it remained prosperous, and enjoyed a period of relative stability in the years following his father’s fall. However, Gregory’s time at Launde was cut short; he died tragically young at just 31 years old, a victim of the devastating sweating sickness that swept through England in the mid-1500s. 

Launde Abbey in Wolf Hall

In Wolf Hall and its sequels, Hilary Mantel paints Thomas Cromwell as a man of ambition, strategy, and vision, but also someone capable of longing for peace and beauty. Launde Abbey features as a symbol of that longing – a rare place of tranquillity in Cromwell’s turbulent world. This portrayal has drawn many fans of the series to the Abbey, curious to walk the same grounds that inspired Cromwell’s dreams.

We often get asked if the series was filmed at Launde Abbey, and we’re sad to say that it wasn’t! We’re not quite sure where it was filmed, but it most likely was Barrow Court, in Barrow Gurney, Somerset – a former Benedictine nunnery.

Here are some links if you’d like to read up the series filming locations:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0lp355z5gno

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/…/visit-the-settings…

https://www.atlasofwonders.com/…/where-was-wolf-hall…

Visiting Launde Abbey Today

We love sharing Launde Abbey’s history and beautiful surroundings with visitors. It’s important to note that the Abbey buildings, including the Chapel, are not open to the general public. Access to the buildings and Chapel is reserved for residential guests, those attending a day event, or members of our Companions community. You’re very welcome to book a stay with us to experience the unique peace, hospitality, and history of Launde Abbey, too.

For those wishing to enjoy the outside grounds, our café is open to all and provides a wonderful starting point for a peaceful walk in the surrounding gardens.

We do, however, warmly welcome anyone who would like to attend our daily services in the Chapel. These services include:

• Morning Eucharist at 8:00 am
• Midday Prayer at 12:00 pm
• Evening Prayer at 5:00 pm

If you’d like to attend, simply let us know at Reception when you arrive. For the 8:00 am Eucharist, please contact us in advance so that we can ensure access to the chapel for you.

Whether you’re looking for a reflective retreat, a peaceful day event, or simply a delicious meal in our café, there are plenty of ways to connect with Launde Abbey. For more about our history, retreats, and events, please have a look on our website.