Tintern Abbey and Hook Head

Tintern Abbey

Tintern Abbey is situated on the  west coast of Bannow Bay. It was a powerful Cistercian Abbey until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536. In 1200 The Earl of Pembroke came to Ireland on his first visit as Lord of Leinster. Threatened by shipwreck he vowed to found a monastery wherever he landed safely. Arriving safely in Bannow Bay he kept his promise by bequeathing 9000 acres for the founding of Tintern Abbey. 

Tintern Abbey

It was populated by monks from the Cistercian Abbey at Tintern in Monmouthshire where he was also the Patron.

Looking down to the Estuary

After the Dissolution of the Monasteries the Abbey was granted to Anthony Colclough from Staffordshire. Over the years the Colclough family remodelled the Abbey, turning the church into living quarters. They built the village of Saltmills to replace the village of Tintern which was then demolished. 

The last member of the Colclough family, Lucey Marie Biddulph Colclough left the house in 1959 a few years before the government took over its care.
Renovations began in 1982 and uncovered many of the features of the original abbey.

Woodland Walk at Tintern

On the road to Saltmills

Old Boat

Not to far away from Tintern lies Hook Head. The Hook has what is thought to be one of the oldest  operational lighthouses in  Europe.

It dates back to the 13th century and maybe further. The tower stands four storeys high with walls up to 4 metres thick. The tower was constructed of local limestone and the original building survives almost intact. Standing 36 metres high, the tower consists of two tiers linked by as mural (within the wall) stairway of 115 steps. The first tier is 13m in diameter at the base and has three storeys, each consisting of a rib-vaulted chamber with original thirteenth century fireplace. In the thickness of the wall there are a number of small 
mural chambers, including two garderobes (toilets).

The upper tier is 6m in diameter: originally it supported the fire beacon, which in later times was replaced by a lantern.  It continues to serve its original function to this day. It too was constructed by William Marshal,  the same Earl of Pembroke that was responsible for the building of Tintern Abbey.

  The peninsula itself is composed of fossil-bearing carboniferous limestone.

Fossils can be seen in the rock.

The limestone rock was burned in the many limekilns which can still be seen on the peninsula. 

Sea Pinks

The limestone powder which this produced was used to improve the quality of the soil. It was also mixed with sand to make lime mortar for building stone walls and houses.

Tintern and the Hook lighthouse make a very enjoyable day out.

ABC Wednesday