Just 3 miles from Much Wenlock and 2 miles from Iron Bridge, is a delightful small Cistercian Abbey, founded in 1135, by Roger de Clinton, Bishop of Coventry, originally as a Savignac monastery by monks from Furness Abbey. In 1147 the Savignac Order was incorporated into the Cistercian Order.
The Abbey is built "back to front" with the cloister on the north side of the church to accommodate the river nearby. There is no west door. The outstanding features are:
i) the vaulted Chapter House;
ii) the 12th century arches in the nave which seems to be unmodified since it was built;
iii) the chancel and sanctuary are so small compared to the enormous nave.
The Abbey was surpressed in 1536 in the first wave of dissolutions of lesser monasteries with incomes of less than £200 per year.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buildwas_abbey
