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Hawes-water may be conveniently visited from Penrith, returning
from it by the ruins of Shap (or Heppe) abbey to Shap. The
remains of this ancient structure are inconsiderable, yet
picturesque. A square tower, with piked windows, is the chief
part of the ruins, and does honor to the reign of King John, when
it was built for canons of the praemonstratensian order, that had
been first placed at Preston-patrick, near Kendal, by Thomas, son
of Gospatrick.
This abbey was dedicated by the first founder to St. Mary
Magdalene, and he endowed it with a large portion of his lands,
in Preston, near Kendal. His son translated it to Magdalene vale,
near Shap, and further endowed it with the lands of Karl, or
Karl-wath. Robert de Vitripont (Vipon) first Lord of Westmorland,
confirmed the preceding grants, and added to that of Matilda his
mother, and Ivo his brother, the tithes of all his mills, and of
the game killed in all his lands in Westmorland. This grant is
dated on Saturday, April 24, in the 13th of King John.
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