aerial photograph of Lilleshall Abbey Shropshire UK. Lilleshall Abbey was founded during the Anarchy around AD 1145. While the Abbey controlled much of the surrounding area, it was never very prosperous and under the mismanagement of Abbot John of Chetwynd in the 14th century it ran up significant debts. John of Chetwynd was somewhat of a rouge Abbot and various misdeeds are recorded in the history books. While his replacement was much more astute, the Abbey suffered financially during the Black death of AD1348. The Abbey was visited by Richard II and Queen Isabella in AD 1398. The Abbey was finally dissolved by Henry VIII in 1538 and its contents sold off. That was not the end of the Abbey's place in the history books though because during the English Civil War the site was fortified by royalists forces. Parliamentarian forces captured the Abbey however much of the buildings had been destroyed in the bombardment. Mining subsidence caused further destruction in the 19th century but today the site is protected and under the care of English Heritage..