These ruins are often referred to as Sopwell Nunnery, but it is actually only the site of the nunnery and the remains of Lee Hall.
Sopwell Nunnery was founded here in 1140 but in 1540, after the Dissolution of the Monasteries, Henry VIII granted the land to Sir Richard Lee, a soldier, engineer and member of the king’s court. Lee demolished the nunnery and built himself a mansion on its foundations. These ruins are what remains of his Tudor mansion.
Sopwell ruins, St Albans, Hertfordshire, March 2021
Copyright Debbie Smyth, 8 March 2021
Posted as part of Fan Of…
…
Travel with Intent 
I suspect Sir Richard did less for the local community than the nuns!
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I’m sure you’re right, Becky
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I am as well 🙂 🙂
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It says something about me, I guess, when I say I love ruins. But I do. If only they could speak . . .
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I understand why you say that. Dull of stories. And they are great from an artistic view as well – colours, shapes, textures, …
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Well, I need to see this place….nicely atmospheric, and certainly not somewhere I have ever heard of
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Well get you up here when you feel safe to do so. Just say when! I’ll get you collected and you can borrow wheels here 😀
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Yay!
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Great ruins, looks great for people that make photo shoots.
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Yes. It would be perfect.
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Pretty easy to find things older than I am, but getting harder and harder to find folks older than I am. 😦
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Same for me
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Well well, here’s somewhere else I’ve never heard of. It looks nicely atmospheric.
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Doesn’t get talked about much. It about 10 minutes walk from St Albans Station. In fact it’s probably about halfway between the 2 stations. Popular picnic spot.
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