"On the peninsula which stretches out into the
sands and seas of Morecombe Bay in Lancashire stands what remains of Furness Abbey. The monastery of Furness was first founded in 1124
by King Stephen before he had come to the Throne of
England. The monks were Benedictines from Savigny
in France, and they were first located at a place called Tulketh, near Preston. They moved, however, in 1127
to Furness, which was then called Benkangsgill, or "the
valley of the deadly nightshade." A poem written by
one of the monks in a later age connects the place-name
with a legend telling how the coming of the monks rendered the poison of the plants harmless.
Extract from "The Greater Abbeys of England" (Open Library).
Furness Abbey is a English Heritage
property with free entry for English
Heritage members.
