Delapre Abbey 1546/1946 AD
Formerly St Mary's Nunnery 1145/1538 AD)

Oh Delapre, who was raised from the ruins
That once formed, a gracious clunian nunnery
Whose stones were built by the second St Liz
Whose power was scored into Northampton's history.

Your very name depicts true beauty
"Of the meadow" you were specially created
Even now, parts of you, still grace the lush green acres
Allowing all eyes to feast, until they are fully sated.

In 1145, Earl St Liz had thee endowed
To carry forth the virgins name
As support, to the cluniac Abbey of St Andrews
Thus giving you the magic of the holy virgin's flame.

You took within your wing those of Fotheringhay
Whose small nunnery was built just before
But it was your right to hold the ascendancy
When their voices joined, to make your greatness soar.

To hold further your power, the Earl de-St Liz
Gave you the churches of Earls Barton, Fotheringhay
and Great Doddington
As well as a tun of wine at Pentecost
Ensuring that mass was truly sung and wrung.

For four centuries, your nuns worked their magic
Educating those who sought your alm filled stones
Healing the wounds of sore pressed beggars
Or giving shelter to travellers, traversing the London Road.

During the following century, in 1290, a sadness did occur
For the soleful cortege, carrying Edward's Queen Eleanor
Sought the peace of your beneficence
When Queen Eleanor's body, slowly entered through your door.

Although Eleanor died at Harby, she was embalmed at Lincoln
Where her body lay for prayer until the fifth of December
Then where ever her body rested in its long journey to London
Twelve crosses were erected, so her love and devotion
all would remember.

So on the hill, between Delapre and Hardingstone
Northampton's own cross, still points its beauty to the sky
As a memorial, communicating the loneliest night of vigil
When St Mary's nuns raised their prayers to heaven's sky.

Such peace would not last forever, for in your 1460 AD
Northampton's own War of the Roses erupted round your stones
When the sixth King Henry entrenched betwixt you and the Nene
And Warwick's ferocious power, would have shaken the very
gates of Rome.

Blood gushed out from every cut and thrust
Even the Nene, blood red was now seen
As the vanquished Lancastrians tried to melt away
While braver hearts burst forth, during that gory scene.

At last King Henry was led as a captive through your portals
Then very soon afterward was taken to London town
Where passing the Queen's cross still standing upon the hill
It proved to be an omen, for it had already lost its crown.

But peace once more descended upon your welcoming stones
Many still sought its benefit of your tendering alms
Until the desecrater, Henry the eighth achieved his aims
When finding that Ann Boleyn had more seductive charms.

For in 1538 Henry deviously obtained your deed of surrender
Even though two years before an agreement had been reached
That the nunnery would still fulfil its duties
But your lead roofs were stripped, thus leaving your
shelter breached.

Then in 1646 Bartholomew Tate and his mother
Bought the lands with your ruins too
Thus creating a manor house from your ruins
Amid those lush green pastures still under skies of assure blue.

Years passed and time once more settled into a peaceful
way of life
Then the plague came and as quickly passed you by
Until in 1764 your lands were sold once more again
To Edward Bouverie and nearly two more centuries were
again to pass you by.

Many Bouveries were to enjoy all that your beauty had to offer
The land was blessed with a vibrant way of life again
Until in 1946, Major Uthwatt Bouverie
Sold off your heart just for a few more pounds to gain.

Struggles have come and struggles have gone
But none more than that off today
For once more the council still belittles your beauty
And plan to sell you off, to gather more coffers their way.

And yet with a little more imagination and foresight
They could have utilized your overall grace
For the museum which then would have shown us all
That Northamptonians had come of age and deserved
their historic place.

by J R Lock from Northampton