Shap Abbey was founded by a community of monks known as the White Canons, named for the simple white robes they wore, woven from undyed sheep’s wool. These monks belonged to the Premonstratensian order, which began in northern France before making its way to Cumbria in the 13th century.
On arrival in Shap, the canons were gifted land and generous donations by local landowners, who believed that supporting the abbey would secure their own place in heaven. Although the monks took vows of poverty and austerity, the abbey gradually grew prosperous. It became the centre of a thriving estate, supported by a closeknit community of shepherds, gardeners and millers.
The monks dedicated both the abbey and the valley around it to God and to Mary Magdalene — who, in the Middle Ages was revered as the patron saint of mistresses.
Much of what remains today dates back to this period. The imposing west tower was added around 1500, while the ruins of the church, cloister, chapter house and refectory can be traced back to the 1200s. Beyond the main buildings, evidence of daily life and industry still survives, including the remains of a water mill, mill race and fish ponds to the north and south of the abbey. Together, these ruins offer a fascinating glimpse into the spiritual, social and working life of a medieval religious community that once shaped this quiet corner of Cumbria.
