Haughmond Abbey

Haughmond Abbey is a pleasant afternoon out in the shropshire countryside. The Abbey and grounds, when approached from the road, look relatively small and there does not appear that there will be much to be seen, however first looks are very deceptive.
As you enter on your left is a very small but very informative museum. Not many artifacts have been found from around the site but what have, have been well displayed and are suitably detailed on easy to read display boards.
The Abbey itself is very impressive (or certainly would have been). There are display boards around the site to detail each aspect of the abbey as you enter into it. The grounds just seem to keep going where many rooms, unable to be seen from the raod, lie behind the remaining imposing structure. In some places the display boards have been replaced by simple signs telling the visitor where they are in the Abbey. This part of the visit could be improved by placing similar visual dispaly boards with artist impressions in more areas around the site.
The history of the site unfolds as you walk around and it is easy to understand how the monks who lived in the Abbey led a relatively comfortable lifestyle compared to the country folk around it.
Towards the end of the site is a display board detailing the true scale of the Abbey and how recent digs have unearthed a surrounding wall and large gatehouse which would have been the main entrance. It is a shame that this display is not incorporated into the museum to allow you to appreciate the grandeur at the start of the visit as opposed to trying to appreciate it at the end.
The site has a small but well equipped visitor shop with protaloo toilets at one side of the site. Better toilets and display boards would make this a five star English Heritage visit.

Haughmond Abbey is located 3 miles NE of Shrewsbury off B5062. Another fantastic day out.
It has a lovely picnic area and also able to get get light refreshments. On a lovely day its definatley a good picnic site.