Loamhedge Abbey

In Brian Jacques's fictional Redwall universe, Loamhedge Abbey is the abbey from which the original founders of Redwall Abbey came.

History

Originally started by Abbess Sylvaticus, the purpose of the Abbey was to be a place of peace. However, in the book "Mossflower", when a plague brought upon by vermin caused many residents to either get very sick or die, Abbess Germaine and Columbine, a young mousemaid, took the rest of the healthy citizens away and ended up in Mossflower Woods, where the tyrant wildcat Tsarmina rules with an iron paw. With help from Martin the Warrior, Abbess Germaine and the other goodbeasts eventually found Redwall Abbey.

After the death of Abbess Germaine, the exact location of Loamhedge Abbey was forgotten for many generations. However, some clues to its whereabouts were hidden in Redwall Abbey. As the Loamhedge building began to decay and rot from earthquakes and time, other beasts soon took up residence. In "Mattimeo", the underground ruins of Loamhedge become the lair of Malkariss the polecat.

The ruins of Loamhedge Abbey are also featured in "Loamhedge". Bragoon and Saro set off to Loamhedge Abbey in order to find a cure for Martha Braebuck, a wheelchair-bound haremaid. They bravely sacrifice their lives by pushing the log acting as a bridge over the Great Gorge near Bell and Badger Rocks into the abyss and sending Kharanjul the Wearet and all of his vermin into the deep abyss, not knowing that back at Redwall Abbey, Martha had started to walk for an unknown reason. Unable to find the cure at Loamhedge Abbey, Bragoon and Saro write their own cure saying that one just needs faith in himself or herself. They aren't able to find Sister Amyl's secret cure and never make it back to Redwall to learn that Martha had learned to walk. Horty, Fenna, and Springald return to Redwall Abbey after running away to catch up with Bragoon and Saro. They bring back the sword of Martin the Warrior and the message that Bragoon and Saro left for Martha.

Location

To get to Loamhedge from Redwall Abbey, you must go southeast through Mossflower Woods, until it turns into plains. Keep going until you find a huge plateau, and climb it. Once you climb it, go through some dense coniferous forests until you come to a stream. Once you cross the stream, cross vast wastelands until you come to a gorge. Look for a log that serves as a bridge, and cross it. Keep traveling until you find two large carved rocks, one shaped like a bell, the other shaped like a badger's head. The ruins of Loamhedge are just beyond there.