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Shap Abbey

Located just over a mile from the village of Shap in Cumbria are what remains of Shap Abbey, a historical religious house built in 1199. Today, some of the abbey buildings form part of a current farmhouse and barns, so it is nice to see what was originally built over 800 years ago has a present day usage.

I had the pleasure of visiting this site in 2025 to take some photographs, the results of which you can see here. Normally underneath each photograph I will state the date the photo was taken, but as they were all taken on the same day, 18th April, I have left this off.

A visit to the site is well worth doing, if nothing else because it is free, but don’t expect a gift shop or other amenities!






Leica SL(601), Summicron-R 50mm f/2, 1/200sec @ f/3.4, ISO 100.

Approaching the abbey, with the main building in view here, with the current farm buildings behind.


Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/160sec @ f/4, ISO 100.

Closer details of the top section of the main building.

Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/200sec @ f/4.8, ISO 100.

Leica SL(601), Elmarit-R 28mm f/2.8, 1/50sec @ f/5.6, ISO 100.

Leica SL(601), Elmarit-R 19mm f/2.8, 1/60sec @ f/4, ISO 100.

Leica SL(601), Elmarit-R 19mm f/2.8, 1/80sec @ f/5.6, ISO 100.

The information board shows what it used to look like.

Leica SL(601), Elmarit-R 19mm f/2.8, 1/80sec @ f/4, ISO 100.

Leica SL(601), Elmarit-R 19mm f/2.8, 1/50sec @ f/8, ISO 100.

Leica SL(601), Elmarit-R 19mm f/2.8, 1/80sec @ f/3.4, ISO 100.

Leica SL(601), Elmarit-R 19mm f/2.8, 1/60sec @ f/6.8, ISO 100.

A closer look at the stonework.

Leica SL(601), Elmarit-R 19mm f/2.8, 1/40sec @ f/6.8, ISO 100.

Leica SL(601), Elmarit-R 19mm f/2.8, 1/40sec @ f/6.8, ISO 100.

Leica SL(601), Elmarit-R 19mm f/2.8, 1/100sec @ f/6.8, ISO 100.

Leica SL(601), Elmarit-R 19mm f/2.8, 1/160sec @ f/4, ISO 100.

Getting in close to the tree log and using the ultra-wide angle lens gives a totally different look to the image above, despite my position on the grass being only being a bit further to the left.

Leica SL(601), Elmarit-R 19mm f/2.8, 1/50sec @ f/14, exposure compensation +0.6 stop, ISO 400.

The walk to the abbey from the car park takes you over a footbridge with a fence; I noticed a hole in the fence, which gave me the opportunity to take this photograph.

Leica SL(601), Elmarit-R 19mm f/2.8, 1/160sec @ f/5.6, ISO 100.

Main entrance to the site. This large building is the only section of the abbey to look similar to what it was like when it was in use as an abbey hundreds of years ago.

Leica SL(601), Elmarit-R 19mm f/2.8, 1/40sec @ f/11, ISO 100.

Looking through the main entrance.

Leica SL(601), Elmarit-R 19mm f/2.8, 1/125sec @ f/2.8, ISO 100.

Inside the abbey site now, looking back towards the main entrance.

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