Women’s Institute Tour

07 Mar 2017

The Henton and District branch of the Women’s Institute visited Downside this week for a tour of the Abbey Church and Monastery Archives and Library.

The group were given a guided tour by a member of our Outreach team and saw the various points of interest in the Church including the shrine of St Oliver Plunkett, the tombs of Bishop Baines, Cardinal Gasquet and Bishop Walmesley as well as the wonderful 15th-century sculpture of Our Lady and Child. 

After this, they visited the monastery library where a display of archive material and some of our rare books had been laid out. Items displayed included our 11th-century Lambach Prophetorum and our 18th-century slave ship journal. After this, the tour went to see the exhibition of maps and plans of Downside from the 17th century.

As with all good tours, the trip also included a visit to our Abbey Visitor Centre for a cup of tea and a chance to peruse the bookshop.

To book a tour with us email here.