Hailes and the Blood of Christ - Mystery of a Relic

Hailes Abbey in Gloucestershire was founded and built in 1246 by Henry III's brother, Richard, Earl of Cornwall and existed as a Cistercian Abbey until its dissolution in 1539. It hosted one of England's most famous relics back in the day: A sample of the blood of Jesus Christ, allegedly shed in his final moments on the cross in Jerusalem. In this video, we will learn some interesting facts about monastic life in general and the story of Hailes in particular. We will follow the trail of the blood relic from the earliest appearance to its vanishing and try to make some intelligent guesses about its final fate. We will also try to answer questions like: Are plague pits still dangerous after so many years? And: Did Thomas Cromwell watch the Abbey burn?

This work was made possible by English Heritage who look after the site of Hailes Abbey in Gloucestershire, UK. They run the site's small but very interesting museum and the local staff go out of their way to give you information and generally make your visit worthwhile.
I also got some crucial and unexpected help at the Aachen Cathedral Treasury where Richard of Cornwall is well known and some of his regalia are kept.
Last but not least, the amazing people at Winchcombe museum pointed me to this place, which I would otherwise have missed completely, and then supplied me with lots of unique information and material. Thank you!

Disclaimer:
In the unlikely event that any drone footage has managed to sneak into the final cut, please be assured that the material was either found on the internet or, if created by the author, flown at
high altitude and from well outside National Trust premises and outside opening hours.

#bloodofchrist #abbey