If you visit the ruins you will not be surprised that gothic tales and sonnets were written in homage to the abbey...

Inspired by the discovery of some female human remains uncovered at the ruins, the Rev Richard Barham (1788-1845) wrote:

'And there was an ugly hole in the wall
For an oven too big for a cellar too small.
And I said 'Here's a nun has been playing some tricks"
That horrible hole! It seems to say
I'm a grave that gapes for a living prey!

Ah me, ah me 'tis sad to think
That maiden's eye which was made to blink
Should here be compelled to grow blear and blink
Or be closed for aye. In this kind of way
Shut out for ever from wholesome day.
Walled up in a hole with never a chink
No light - no air - no victuals - no drink.
That wandering glance and furtive kiss
exceedingly naughty and wrong I wis
Should yet be considered so much amiss
As to call for a sentence severe as this
And I said to myself as I heard with a sigh
The poor lone victims stifled cry
Well I can't understand how any mans hand
Could wall up that hole in a Christian land'

more...