10. St Nicholas Church

 
image by James Turner

Dating from 1291 this church stood alongside and outlasted the Abbey. The West Door is an interesting mix of Norman stones from the Abbey in a renaissance frame. On her visit in 1575 Elizabeth I attended two services here so it’s possible the door was part of Dudley’s efforts to impress.  The church was damaged by lodging troops in the civil war and was remodelled in the 18th century (although lost its spire to lightning in 1858) and by 1885 the churchyard had grown to cover the ruined nave and cloister of the Abbey.

Onward Directions

With your back to church door, walk straight ahead to reach the gatehouse.