Description: The photographer was Benjamin J Taylor who lived in Park Lane, Sheffield and later moved to Sabine Hay, South Darley. Part of donated album (DCHQ007496 to DCHQ007535).
In 1170 Robert Fitz-Ranulf, he then High Sheriff of Nottingham and Derbyshire, funded the building of an abbey on land he owned in the north corner of Derbyshire. The French based brothers of the PREMONSTRATENSIAN order called the area Beauchief, (Bee-chief) meaning Beautiful Headland. The officially recorded opening of Beauchief Abbey was 21st December 1183 and by that time Robert Fitz-Ranulf had gifted most his wealth and lands to the abbey, renounced the temptations of the world and joined the order as a priest. Over the next few hundred years the community and the acreage of land owned by the abbey at Beauchief continued to grow until by the 16 century they, along with other monastic houses, attracted the attention of King Henry VIII. In 1536, Abbot John Sheffield surrendered the Abbey to the Kings commissioner, Thomas Cromwell. The few remaining brothers were pensioned off, the abbey was partially demolished and the land on which it stood, along with the surrounding 260 acres, was sold to Sir Nicholas Strelley for a sum around £233. Around 1662 parts of the original nave was rebuilt as a private family chapel for the then owner, Edward Pegge. Over the next few hundred years the estate containing Beauchief Abbey changed hands several times until in 1943 the abbey, now an listed ancient monument, was gifted to the people of Sheffield by Frank Crawshaw. The chapel is in almost the same condition as it was in the 17th century and is still in use today.