Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral History Stanlow Abbey

Yes it does. I did put that in my flickr posting but I didn't upload it properly. DD somehow sorted it and published the picture. Samuel and Nathan Buck apparently drew all the abbey remains all over the country. Weren't we lucky that they included this one?!

It's a lovely picture. I've sent you a pm

Here's a photo taken on 11-2-2017 of the abbey drain

I can't see the photo (not sure why) but how did you manage to take one so recently?

Looking at Exportcat's previous posts, I think that he must have a pass.

If you want to see all images, you need have membership, techgran.

These pics appeared on a post on Facebook last couple of days. Just do a search for 'Stanlow Abbey' in Facebook search bar there are around 20 other pics of surrounding area too :-)

Thanks for that. It's a pity we can't see more of what's left. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the whole foundation line was opened up and all the encroaching vegetation cut away. A couple of friends in the local history society are making drawings of the ground plan and a drawing of the seal of the abbot. I'm not sure what their source is. I'm still waiting for another friend to do a translation of the Latin poem and will post it when it's done. I have had a go at it myself but my Latin knowledge is too limited to be reliable.

I can't see my own picture until I pay to upgrade my account. Because of this I wont be posting anymore here. I have posted pics on facebook pages 'wirral past and present' and 'wirral old and new'. I took these photos on 11-02-2017.

REALLY impressed with the photos but how did you manage to get there to take them?? I am trying to put together a presentation for the history group. Got some pictures from various places. Hoping to get the poem translated (other than the F. G. Slater one) soon. Would love to use your pics. I'm hoping to get some more from a friend who went there in the 80s but at the moment he's in Moreton and the pics are in Manchester. Fingers crossed.

First of the ACTUAL translations of the Stanlaw poem:
*****************
Epitaph praising places

O Stanlaw when death releases me and entrusts me to you
Not in vain did nature give you your name for this place,
Although cruel fate has now extinguished your fame.
Until now your brief hour powerfully transcends that of nearby places.
Stan and Law are different but turned around to Law and Stan are sadly fitting;
Thus the two divided things become one and fit together.
Law is hill, Stan is the stone which gives relief to the weary.
These words make sense to the grateful sinner, taking away the cloak of mystery.
Christ is the cornerstone, and hill alone the profoundness of the Lord.
Holy altar stone on which lies the saving meal given to mankind.
So Stanlaw, given such a great name confers authority.
****************
Still difficult to translate in some places because of the deliberate play on words and the multiple meanings of some of them. At least one more translation still to come and perhaps two.

Well, well. That is even more beautiful . One wonders how the translation can be so diluted, but I suppose that's what they call ' artistic licence'.

The wording 'Although cruel fate has now extinguished your fame' would indicate that it was written about the time it was transferred to Whalley Abbey. All words lead to the Prior who stayed behind, in my opinion. (I can't remember his name atm.)

Thank you techgran, very interesting .

I'm really surprised that you think it is more beautiful. I thought it was a bit unwieldy but I was glad that the meaning was quite close to Slater's version. I'm still waiting for another version translated by a friend who has a degree in Medieval Latin as I think that could be a more accurate translation. The abbot's name was Robert Haworth and I think it must have been him who wrote it and I agree with you that it seems from the sentiments expressed that it was round about the time of the transfer to Whalley. Another friend sent me a picture of the abbot's seal which is in a page of Whitaker between pages 142 and 143 if you find that interesting. I'll post up the next translation possibly tomorrow. There seems to be so much information. I wonder if we could get up a petition to ask Stanlow Oil to clear the vegetation and expose the outline of the foundations.

Epitaph in praise of a place
O Stanlaw, death will place my grave with you when I die;
Not in vain has the name for the local character of the place been given to you under a figure of speech.
Allowed to be suppressed by cruel fate, you now emerge with slight reputation, you are by no means the least.
As yet the fleeting hour remains in which you surpass the neighbouring places.
Stan and Law are opposites, but Stan has been turned to Law, having been placed beside it.
Let not these two be separated, they are both turned into one and become a united whole.
Law is hill and Stan is stone on which the weary bee finds rest.
If you understand the substance of this saying, you will thankfully understand the meaning of the place.
Christ is the cornerstone and the unparalleled height of the hill of the Lord.
The stone lies on the sacred altar, on which the saving food becomes a gift to mankind.
Oh Stanlaw, the creator of your name has given you that name as a sign.

The most accurate translation of the Stanlaw poem so far. Many thanks to Catherine Jones

Thanks Techgran.

It is somewhat different from the poem 'Stanlaw' we usually read. Poetic license can lead us to a different, and not necessarily complete or honest transcript.

Much appreciated.

This article about Stanlow Abbey in the Birkenhead News of December 1936 may be of interest. It’s a report of a local historical society meeting, but unfortunately I only copied part of the article. I was researching something else on the page and this article just happened to be copied at the same time.