Discover Delapré Abbey
900 years of history
For over 900 years the site of Delapré Abbey has occupied an important place in the local, regional and national story.
Threatened with destruction
Explore the House
Northampton’s heritage treasure located just a mile or so from the town centre is alive with the possibilities of the present and surrounded by the echoes of the past.
Threatened with destruction many times during its 900 year history, Delapré Abbey has managed to survive and was part restored with support from West Northants Council, devoted volunteers and a £3.65 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. It opened to the public for the first time in 2018.
As a visitor, you’ll experience tales of the Abbey told across numerous storytelling zones, you’ll investigate unexpected views, strange doorways and eccentric architecture and make your own memories in a building brimming with history.
The Abbey
History and restoration
Delapré Abbey, a former Cluniac nunnery founded in 1145, has a rich history spanning nearly 900 years. Once a family home and battlefield site, it has evolved into a stunning heritage destination, offering visitors a glimpse into its fascinating past and beautiful gardens.
19th Century Stables
The 19th Century Stable Yard at Delapré Abbey is currently unused but has great potential. The A Stable Future project will transform it into a wellbeing hub for Northampton and the surrounding area, bringing social and economic benefits.
The Gardens
The Abbey is set within the remains of the formal and semi-formal gardens which were once the pride and joy of the Tate and Bouverie families.
There’s a large walled garden, superb specimen trees in the understated arboretum, the hidden remains of a splendid water garden and the south lawn which stretches out to the ha-ha which separates the lawn from the 500 acres of the wider parkland and the golf course beyond.
There’s so much to see from the colourful flowers to the ancient trees and mature shrubs carefully tended by the gardener, grounds maintenance teams and of course our many volunteers.
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Bring your class along to Delapré Abbey where they will be able to use a variety of sources to discover the answers to the following questions:
- What significant local event happened on 26th April 1945?
- What can you find out about the type of plane that crashed?
- What can you discover about the crew?
- Why did the plane crash?
- Who were the heroes and villains of this event?
The Walled Garden
The formal walled garden offers visitors the chance to relax and enjoy a real pop of colour. The garden is parked with reminders of the Abbey’s long and varied history from the small herb garden tended by local community volunteers, through to the modern sculptures from nationally renowned artists.
The allotment beds and greenhouses, tended by volunteers and community groups, provide organically grown produce for use by our award-winning chefs in the Orangery café and our fine-dining restaurant, Hibiscus.
The Park
Beyond the Abbey buildings with its walled and semi-formal gardens lie over 550 glorious acres of parkland – a tranquil green oasis of woodland and open grass land.
There are plenty of routes through the splendid ancient trees, to choose from around the park for visitors to explore, which lead through woodland and grassland, to lake shore. Details of possible walk routes are available from the Visitor Welcome desk.
The Eleanor Cross
In December 1290, the funeral cortège of Eleanor of Castile, Queen of Edward I, halted at Delapré overnight en route from Harby near Lincolnshire to Westminster in London.
To commemorate Queen Eleanor’s final journey, her husband King Edward I had a memorial cross erected at each of the funeral procession’s 12 resting places.
The Eleanor Cross to the south of the Abbey parkland alongside the London Road is today one of only three crosses still surviving. A pathway leads through the trees alongside the London Road from the main driveway entrance to the cross if you wish to take a closer look.
The Lake
Originally a gravel pit, Delapré Lake is a haven for both wildlife and water based leisure activities including water skiing and angling.
Pathways through the park around the banks of the lake make this a popular spot for walkers.
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It is a haven for specimen anglers, as the lake contains some of the oldest carp – some weighing as much as 40 lbs – in the region along with substantial shoals of Bream and Tench. Appropriate licencing is required with more information available from the Delapré Lake Angling Facebook Page.
