St. Radegund's Abbey at Bradsole was a medieval monastic house in the parish of

Hougham Without Hougham Without is a civil parish between Dover and Folkestone in southeast England. The main settlements are the villages of Church Hougham and West Hougham, collectively known simply as "Hougham". Great Hougham Court Farm is located to the sou ...

near Dover in southeast England. It was dedicated to Radegund, the sixth-century

Merovingian The Merovingian dynasty () was the ruling family of the Franks from the middle of the 5th century until 751. They first appear as "Kings of the Franks" in the Roman army of northern Gaul. By 509 they had united all the Franks and northern Gauli ...

princess, who, once married to the unsavory King Chlothar I, turned to a life of asceticism and charitable works. The remains of the abbey buildings have since have been incorporated into a farm. The abbey was founded in 1191 on the land of Bradsole Manor, which had been donated by

King Richard I Richard I (8 September 1157 – 6 April 1199) was King of England from 1189 until his death in 1199. He also ruled as Duke of Normandy, Aquitaine and Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, and Count of Poitiers, Anjou, Maine, and Nantes, and was ...

. The community was established by Premonstratensian Canons sent over from the mother abbey of

Prémontré Prémontré () is a commune in the Aisne department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. Population Sights The remains of Prémontré Abbey, the mother house of the Premonstratensian Order, are located in Prémontré. See also * Commu ...

in Aisne, France, and building commenced in 1191, lasting some fifty years. Although the abbey benefitted from its control of several local churches, the site itself proved fairly inhospitable. By the end of the 13th century the monks were occupied in increasingly secular activities such as supervising the building of

Dover Castle Dover Castle is a medieval castle in Dover, Kent, England and is Grade I listed. It was founded in the 11th century and has been described as the "Key to England" due to its defensive significance throughout history. Some sources say it is the ...

and by the end of the following century the monastic buildings had fallen into a state of neglect, with only 8 canons still in residence. In 1538 the abbey was dissolved as part of the Dissolution of the Monasteries and much of the stone carried away to help build Sandgate Castle. The site was sold to Simon Edolph in 1590, who converted the refectory building into a farmhouse. Still standing, it is a Grade II* listed building. The remaining ruins, part of which act as a gateway to the farmhouse, have also been Grade II* listed.

Burials

*Thomas Poynings, 2nd

Baron Poynings The title of Baron Poynings was created twice in the Peerage of England. The first creation was for Sir Michael Poynings, who was summoned to Parliament from 20 November 1348 to 24 February 1368 by writs directed Michaeli de Ponynges, 'whereby ...

(1349–1375)

References

Monasteries in Kent Dover District Grade II* listed buildings in Kent Premonstratensian monasteries in England {{UK-Christian-monastery-stub