Have you ever wondered what the Abbey used to look like?
This is a reconstruction drawing of the Norman Abbey and Palace. In the 1040s, King Edward (later St Edward the Confessor) established his royal palace by the banks of the River Thames on land known as Thorney Island. Close by was a small Benedictine monastery, founded under the patronage of King Edgar and St Dunstan around 960 A.D., which came to be known as the 'west minster'.
ALT A detailed illustration of a medieval monastery complex set in a coastal landscape. The architecture features stone buildings with towers and arched windows surrounding a central courtyard. Pathways and small figures of people on horseback or walking are visible. In the background, ships sail in a calm body of water near the shore, with green fields and sparse trees in the surrounding area.