Title inspired by the childrens’story of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Old door in a wall of Whalley Abbey just inside the entrance near the visitors’centre and cafe.
Whalley Abbey was a Cistercian abbey in Whalley, Lancashire, England (grid reference SD730361). After the dissolution of the monasteries, the abbey was largely demolished and a country house was built on the site. In the 20th century the house was modified and it is now the Retreat and Conference House of the Diocese of Blackburn. The ruins of the abbey are a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.The former private house, which is now a retreat and conference house, was reopened in September 2005 following refurbishment. It contains conference rooms, a dining room and en suite rooms for residents. The north range contains a visitor centre, with a coffee shop, exhibition centre and a bookshop.⁷ A spirituality programme is available for resident and non-resident guests.⁸ Guided tours of the abbey ruins can be arranged in the summer months.⁹

Abbey ruins and grounds

Only the foundations of the church remain. The remains of the former monastic buildings are more extensive. The west range, which was the lay brothers’ dormitory, consists of two stories, and is roofed. This is currently used as a Roman Catholic church hall. To the south of the cloister, part of the walls of the former kitchen and refectory remain. The east range is more complete and includes parts of the walls of the former monks’ day room, parlour and vestry.
Taken with a canon 450D and a canon 10-22mm lens@22mm. HDR from a single RAW file and tone mapped in photomatix pro. Further procesed in cs4/color efex pro.

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