Welcome to the home of the Syon at 600 project.
Syon Abbey is the only English religious house that can trace its history in an unbroken line from the Middle Ages to the present day. Henry V laid the foundation stone on 22 February 1415, and the project is designed to mark the anniversary with an exploration of six hundred years of Syon history.
Syon was the last foundation of medieval England, and one of the richest. The abbey was not dissolved under Henry VIII. Instead the community went into exile, living at a succession of sites in the Low Countries and France (as well as a short-lived restoration under Queen Mary) before settling in Lisbon (Portugal) in 1594. There they remained until the nineteenth century, when increased religious toleration allowed them to return to England. They stayed at several locations in South-West England, before settling near South Brent in Devon. The Abbey finally closed in 2011, though the three surviving sisters continue its traditions in retirement.
The network is designed to bring together the scholars, and to raise awareness of the resources, that we will need to provide a definitive account of Syon’s unique history.
The Principal Investigator for this project is Professor Eddie Jones, and the Co-Investigator is Professor Vincent Gillespie.