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Beaulieu Abbey was founded in 1204 by Cistercian monks on land given to them by King John. Although much was destroyed at the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries during the reign of Henry VIII, there is still much for visitors to see today. The Domus, once the lay brothers' refectory, houses an exhibition of monastic life prior to the Abbey's purchase by Thomas Wriothesley, 1st Earl of Southampton in 1538. Visitors can view a series of modern embroidered wall hangings depicting scenes from medieval monastic life and the history of the Abbey since 1204. The Abbey Cloister is a place of tranquillity, planted with fragrant herbs. In medieval times, when the Abbey was an important Cistercian monastery, the monks would have provided hospitality to visitors. Indeed, by the 15th century when the monks' numbers had dwindled, the Domus was adapted to accommodate important guests. That tradition remains today, for the Domus is now regularly used for events, dining and corporate hospitality.
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