page_title: Waverley Abbey
section_title: Architectural description and remains
hierarchical_section_title: Waverley Abbey / Architectural description and remains
caption_attribution_description: English: Image of the remains of the undercroft of the lay brothers' refectory at Waverley Abbey, near Farnham in Surrey, England
context_page_description: Waverley Abbey was the first Cistercian abbey in England. It was founded in 1128 by William Giffard, the Bishop of Winchester. Located about 2 miles southeast of Farnham, Surrey, it is situated on a flood-plain; surrounded by current and previous channels of the River Wey. It was damaged on more than one occasion by severe flooding, resulting in rebuilding in the 13th century. Despite being the first Cistercian abbey in England, and being motherhouse to several other abbeys, Waverley was "slenderly endowed" and its monks are recorded as having endured poverty and famine.
  The abbey was suppressed in 1536 as part of King Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries. Subsequently, largely demolished, its stone was reused in local buildings, likely including "Waverley Abbey House", which was built in 1723 in the northern portion of the former abbey precinct.
  Waverley Abbey House, the ruins of the abbey and the surrounding land are all part of a conservation area. The house is a Grade II* Listed building and the ruins a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
  The ruins of the abbey are currently managed by English Heritage and open to the public.
context_section_description: Waverley Abbey followed the typical arrangement of English Monasteries. The Abbey church, which was around 91 meters long, sat to the north of the monastic complex. To the south of the church was the cloister, the eastern range of which contained the chapter house and monk's dormitory. The southern range of the cloister contained the refectory and latrines. The eastern range contained the lay brothers' refectory and dormitory. The cemetery was located to the east and north of the abbey church.
  The abbey's immediate precinct occupied around 50 acres, with the River Wey forming the southern and eastern boundaries. In addition to the core abbey complex, the precinct contained buildings such as the brewhouse and features such as fishponds to supply food.
caption: Remains of the undercroft of the lay brothers' refectory
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