THE situation of Beauchief Abbey is truly romantic; it stands within a short distance of Sheffield, in the midst of a small valley, near the northern boundary of the county of Derbyshire, beautifully diversified with wood and corn fields, which range in fine sweeping masses over the inequalities of the ground.

This abbey was founded by Robert Fitz-Ranulph, lord of Alfreton, between the years 1172 and 1176, for regular canons of the Premonstratensian order, and was dedicated to Thomas a Becket and the Virgin Mary. It is supposed by some writers, from its dedication to the former patron, to have been founded in expiation of his murder, but erroneously. Of the history of Beauchief Abbey, from its foundation to the time of the dissolution in the reign of Henry VIII. little is known: its revenues, when surrendered, were estimated, according to Dugdale, at 1261. 3s. 4d.

But few remains of this establishment are now existing; they consist chiefly of a part of the Abbey chapel, and some fragments of the outer walls; the architecture is light and in the pointed style. The interior of the building does not display any elaborate ornaments, and from the state of vegetation in and about the ruins, no monumental remains or inscriptions are to be traced.

Are there no ties

To bind our gratitude to cloister'd cells?
Can we forget the day, when Vandal rage
Against the Sciences waged brutal war?
When to these seats, secure, Wisdom retir'd,
A friendless outcast with her learned train,
And hid the treasure, which had 'scap'd the wreck
Of hands barbarian, midst these holy walls?"

THE situation of Beauchief Abbey is truly romantic; it stands within a short distance of Sheffield, in the midst of a small valley, near the northern boundary of the county of Derbyshire, beautifully diversified with wood and corn fields, which range in fine sweeping masses over the inequalities of the ground.

This abbey was founded by Robert Fitz-Ranulph, lord of Alfreton, between the years 1172 and 1176, for regular canons of the Premonstratensian order, and was dedicated to Thomas a Becket and the Virgin Mary. It is supposed by some writers, from its dedication to the former patron, to have been founded in expiation of his murder, but erroneously. Of the history of Beauchief Abbey, from its foundation to the time of the dissolution in the reign of Henry VIII. little is known: its revenues, when surrendered, were estimated, according to Dugdale, at 126l. 3s. 4d.

But few remains of this establishment are now existing; they consist chiefly of a part of the Abbey chapel, and some fragments of the outer walls; the architecture is light and in the pointed style. The interior of the building does not display any elaborate ornaments, and from the state of vegetation in and about the ruins, no monumental remains or inscriptions are to be traced.

Are there no ties

To bind our gratitude to cloister'd cells?
Can we forget the day, when Vandal rage
Against the Sciences waged brutal war?
When to these seats, secure, Wisdom retir'd,
A friendless outcast with her learned train,
And hid the treasure, which had 'scap'd the wreck
Of hands barbarian, midst these holy walls?"

THIS Priory was founded for Augustine canons in the year 1169 by Robert de Vallibus, lord of Gisland, who endowed it with all the land lying between the Roman wall and Irthing and between Burgh and Poltross. The possessions of the canons increased by various benefactions, and charters of confirmation were granted to them by Henry II. and Edward I; the last of whom was detained at this convent by sickness during one of his expeditions to Scotland. At the dissolution the revenues were estimated by Speed at 791. 19s. per annum. The site and demesne lands of the Priory were granted by Henry VIII. to Thomas Dacre, esq. of Lanercost, and his heirs male, in "consideration of his true and faithful services." This gentleman was afterwards knighted; and by Edward VI. had other estates belonging to this Priory granted to him, his heirs and assigns. The male issue of sir Thomas failing, the site and demesne lands reverted to the crown, and are held on lease by the present earl of Carlisle. Part of the Priory buildings are now used as a farm-house, and some

portion of the cemetery has been converted into gardens. The church was built in the conventual form, with a low tower. The portal at the western entrance consists of numerous mouldings supported by pilasters, with plain bases and capitals. Over the arch, within a beautiful canopy, is a finelysculptured figure of St. Mary Magdalen, to whom the church was dedicated. Round the whole upper compartment of the building runs a colonnade of pointed arches supported on single pillars, which has a most elegant appearance. The western part of this edifice has been fitted up for the parochial church of Lanercost. The transepts are entirely in ruin, and contain remains of various tombs of the Howard and Dacre families, now mouldering to dust; indeed so little attention has been paid to this depository of departed greatness, that the body of lord William Dacre was a few years back disinterred, and the leaden coffin in which it had been buried stolen.